Four thousand three hundred twenty. That's how many hours are in six months. Time is a funny thing. For example, six months has the potential to seem like a very long time when we are anticipating something great like college graduation, the arrival of a loved one we haven't seen in a long time or the amount of time until we are given a promotion at a job. Six months can also seem like a very short time, especially when looking back on events.
Recently I have had some experiences that have made me realize the impact that four thousand three hundred twenty hours can have. Here are some of those thoughts:
A few weeks ago my grandfather was given six months to live. He is 78 years old and has been the only constant male adult in my life from the time I was 5. He called me two weeks ago asking me to come home as soon as I could because he doesn't think that he's going to be able to live out the four thousand three hundred twenty hours the doctor's have allotted him. In this case, six months seems to be very short.
My mom has been in rehab for the past eleven months. Six months ago she began taking courses to regain her Nurse's Assistant's liscence. She would graduate on November 15. Two days ago they told her that she could not complete the course and become certified because of her criminal record. My mom had her hopes of being able to re-enter society up one more time. To her, it seems like she just spent an eternity of wasted time. Six months.
Yesterday (11/9/06) marked four thousand three hundred twenty hours since my friend Jenn was taken to heaven where she is now mountain biking her heart out. You would think that within those long hours I would have had time to process her not being part of my world anymore, but I haven't. I still have her number in my phone and want to call her, she's still on my e-mail list and I still think about seeing her when I visit New York....and then I remember. Those six months have just seemed to fly by.
Six months ago I had no clue about lots of things in my life. I did not know if I would have enough money to go to Ukraine. I did not know where I would live once Transit was over. I did not know if I would have a job in New York or Kansas City. Six months ago from this very day I was on a Transit retreat trying to listen to the people who were my community during that season as they encouraged me by saying all that they had seen God do in and through me that year.
Six months. That's a lot of hours for Jesus do things in our lives. How was your life different six months ago? How will it be different six months from now? Have the past six months flown by or have they dragged or like mine, has there been a mixture of both? Be grateful for every hour you have. Treasure it. Make the most of it. And when you mess up on a few hours, look ahead to the next one. Yes, sometimes, like now, my life is overwhelming, with both pain and joy, that I can only sanely live one hour at a time.
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