Making the Most of My Time

I laid more laminate flooring yesterday. Just a little section in front of a bathroom vanity, only about five feet by three feet. It was a good time for it. Jonathan's was at school; Beth was at work; the dog was outside. That way, no one else had to endure my frustration with the wood, the cramped quarters, and myself.

There are good times for lots of things. I'm afraid I have misssed many of them. I wrote a few months ago, "I am not among those who wouldn't change a thing, or those who have no regrets." I'll spare you the whining details.

We often think of time in terms of "the clock is ticking," or "time's up!" But we also use the word to describe a season or a measure of time. The Greeks had a separate word for it. The English transliteration is "kairos." It is the word Jesus used when he said, "The time is fulfilled...repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15); Paul, when he said, "Make the most of your time, for the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16), and "As we have opportunity (kairos), let us do good to all men" (Galatians 6:10).

The word usually indicates a good time, a right time, an opportune time for action or decision. Ah, but recognizing those moments, there's the rub, and maybe the problem. Perhaps, rather than trying to spot these special opportunities in our days, maybe we should cultivate the sense, the perspective, that it is always a good time, the right time, an opportune time to think a new way (repent), to make the most of my time, to do good to everyone.