“The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle, which is exactly what it is: a miracle and unrepeatable.” Storm Jameson 1891-1986
I am certain I have wasted far too much time in my life. The older I get, the more I wish I had made better decisions concerning what I did with the time I had in front of me. Waking up each morning should have been a call to action rather than a reluctant shrug of the shoulders, a yawn and then breakfast. I am thinking about time for two reasons.
First, Storm Jameson’s quote really convicted me when I happened upon it several days ago. Each moment IS a miracle and each moment IS unrepeatable. To be honest, I had to think if I believed Jameson’s statement that moments are unrepeatable.
Second, today I noticed the small brass clock my wife gave me 15 years ago. It sits in a prominent place on my desk. With just a quick sideways glance, I can tell what time it is. Oh, by the way, it’s an analog clock with Roman numerals instead of the more familiar 1-12 many are used to seeing. It’s got a sweeping second hand. Until recently, I never paid any attention to the sweep hand. Now, it is a constant reminder that “tempus fugit” is real.
But the clock has a flaw I never noticed until today. With most clocks I have owned, the hour hand is slightly shorter than the minute hand. Not so with my clock. I am ashamed to admit this is the first time I ever noticed this abnormality of design.
Right now, glancing at my clock, the hands tell me it’s either 12:10 or 2:00. Of course am and pm are another story altogether. It seems for just this moment, I cannot rely on my clock alone to tell me the time.
Here is where Jameson kicks in.
I know I have just finished eating lunch. Since I eat lunch after twelve noon most days, I am confident my defective clock is not pointing to 12:10 (am or pm). And since I am currently longing for a brief time of meditation and reflection, I am assuming my clock is suggesting it’s 2:00 and time for a break. I am certain it’s pm because the sun is out and people are strolling down the street, walking dogs, using up miraculous moments that may be unrepeatable.
The miraculous moments Jameson promised me and the thought that this moment may never come again in this exact form are totally unrelated to the accuracy or dependability of my clock. There must be another standard for measuring time and its effect.
My standard of time revolves around coming to grips with the two themes of my blogsite: “the power and promise of hope” and my foundational statement, “every life should have a noble purpose.”
Each morning when I wake up the clock begins.
How will I discern and act on the moments ahead – not the moments designated from 9:00 am to 9:15 am as measured by my defective clock, but the next moment and the next – no time stamp just duration? What miracle will I be anticipating, how will I pursue my noble purpose? What role will hope play in the next moment? Perhaps Jameson was on to something quite extraordinary.
In Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” In verse 12 of that same chapter we read, “I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.”
Whether the scriptures inform you or not, I am confident there is nothing better for all of us than to find happiness, to do good and to share life-affirming moments with those we love. This is not always our inclination.
If we spend our moments engaged in such beneficial activities, then each moment WILL be a miracle. And in my way of thinking, moments like that are worth trying to repeat or at least use as a guide for the next moment that comes along.
Today, right this moment, do all the good you can, do no evil thing, and gather people together to uphold one another as we change the world, moment by moment.
Really inspiring final sentence. You urge me to try! Thanks.
Thanks Karen. Yes, I do urge you to try. Jon
Thanks for the blog. Your post reminded my of some lines from “Our Town.”
“EMILY: “Does anyone ever realize life while they live it…every, every minute?”
STAGE MANAGER: “No. Saints and poets maybe…they do some.”
I think the saints and poets allow themselves to relish and appreciate the every day moments. Too many of us (including myself) allow the busyness and worries of the world to take control and dictate the focus of our lives.
Thanks again for your blog.
Thanks for your follow up and comment. Honestly I did not recall the lines you quoted from Our Town but they seem to fit very well. One of the silver linings of multiple surgeries is the time spent during recovery to discern how I might restart my life and efforts. Also, having to start to consider downsizing (how and where we live) has also forced me to consider the incredible value of enjoying every moment just as it is. Embellishments are the temptations we ought to consider before pursuing them. Vanilla ice cream is the only sweet I need. Anything else is excess. ?