An analog clock is the perfect way to see time in three dimensions…it will show what time it is now, what time it used to be and what time it will become. Past, present and future. The downfall of a digital clock is that it only shows what time it is now. This is an unbalanced outlook and can take many forms from busyness to laziness.
We must recognize that time is measured in minutes, but life is measured in moments. Not all time is equal.
Our sixth habit, wind the clock, makes the most of every minute, but it also makes the most of every moment.
The ancient Greeks had two words for time – chronos and kairos.
Chronos is clock time, it is sequential – past, present, future. It is quantitative – counting seconds, minutes, hours. Taking control over chronos time is extremely important. We must manage our calendar or our calendar will manage us.
Kairos is all about redeeming your time. It’s not as much about keeping time as it is about making time. Kairos is about enjoying the journey and smelling the roses. It’s less about getting to a particular destination in record time and more about who you become along the way.
We want to wind both forms of time with our sixth habit, although putting extra focus on kairos is important as it comes less naturally to us.
Chronologically, we all age at the same rate, but psychologically, we all age at different rates and in different ways. Our experiences shape who we are and how we act. If we can keep a child like joy throughout our adult years, a youthful spirit will carry on inside of us for years to come.
Our daily stressors weigh on us like a heavy brick pushing us down. The negativity in the world around us. This can be ever so important given the circumstances that we are facing today. The stress that we have been under for the last 18 months will age us psychologically. It has reminded me of a simple saying – “do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble on it’s own”. While we are engulfed with negativity stress, anxiety, and the list can go on, we must find ways to see the forest through the trees. Don’t get so wrapped up in the negativity that we miss the moments that are truly important to us.
Chronos will keep ticking, second by second. Don’t let those moments pass you by without taking the time to focus on what is truly important. Your family, your health, your friends. Enjoy the finer moments that life brings your way and make the most out of each second. You’ll never get that time back!
If you’d like to check out the book that I’m working through, here is the link! Win The Day
Batterson, Mark. Win the Day: Seven Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less and Accomplish More. Multnomah, 2020.
