Artwork by Darren Tunnicliff
Thought for the Week
When we take time, we gain time. Say what? My old comedy partner Allen once wrote a scene about two teenage girls working at a fast food stand. The first, smart and ambitious, slaps at coins in an effort to make “quick” change. Increasingly annoyed customers watch as she drops their change on the floor and hurls their half-wrapped burgers into a bag. Result? She takes twice as long as the chatty airhead at the next register does. And yet the ambitious girl honestly believes she’s “saving time.”
I’m Well Beyond My Teens…
…and very much of the male persuasion, but I’m like that ambitious teenage girl. My hyperactive metabolism, coupled with years of diligent practice, have programmed me to race about bumping into things, trying to do two or three things at once, sloppily and badly, rather than one thing smoothly and well.
And so, as an experiment, I began forcing myself to stop and take long, deep breaths every time I caught myself hurrying. Only then, after thinking “what’s next?” would I allow myself to thoughtfully and intentionally resume my activity.
Finding the Spaces Between the Spaces
At first, these pauses seemed wasteful, extravagant, even if they did hold a certain indefinable peace. But oddly enough, I discovered that, in those “spaces-between-the-spaces,” time seemed to pause with me, and then resume when I resumed. I know this bends the laws of economics, but — it’s not time that’s wasteful, it’s hurry. Haste really does make waste.
Near the ending of The Time Machine, one of my favorite movies as a kid, the inventor of the titular device disappears into the future. His housekeeper asks where he’s gone, and his best friend replies, “I don’t know, but he has all the time in the world.”
Time doesn’t follow the laws of economics, it follows the same mysterious laws that made us, and occupies the same spaces we occupy. In fact, it’s a part of us. We are time machines. So when we take time, we gain time. Because…
Time has all the time in the world.
Perhaps, time is not something we manage at all. I think, perhaps what we are really managing is our presence within it, Mitch.
Well said, Rakesh.
Thank you, Mitch.
Love the art…and the post, happy moments are found when we submit our time to God’s time.
Amen, Pamela.
My husband was always saying, “Everyone is in such a hurry to go nowhere.” Enjoy your words today. Enjoy your day.
I used to get in such a huff when I couldn’t find things. My adult daughter finally after several attempts, convinced me a deep breath, praying for calm would keep be from losing my temper. She was right which she usually is. Now I deep breathe, say a pray asking for calm. I can’t remember the last time I lost my temper when I couldn’t find something and no more beating myself up.
“And this too shall pass” always pauses me…Great post Mitch!
Thank you, Renate.
Lovely post! I sometimes struggle to just slow down at times
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You reminded me of a TED talk or two that advocated slowing down, Mitch, and I can certainly see the benefits of taking time.
Excellent post on time. I have been practicing slowing down and multi-tasking is no longer a friend of mine. Slowing down has allowed me to be more present. Thank you sharing this.
My pleasure, San.
When I am faced with a task that I hate the thought of starting, I sometimes I play a little game with myself to avoid rushing to complete and doing it haphazardly. I say to myself, once you finish these dishes you are going to be executed so you better take all the time in the world… I know this sounds outrageous/crazy/morbid but it sobers me enough to slow down and take my time washing those dishes because it may be the last time. LOL
Hey, if “pre-firing squad” mode works, more power to you, Kathy! ;>)
John Mark Comer wrote a book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.
Great title.
Lovely post as always, Mitch!
Thank you, T❣
You’re most welcome.
Ah yes, I remember—“All the time in the world!” Great movie!
Excellent, Mitch. Spot on.
Thanks, Mitzy.