Pieces of Time – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have a beautiful and very real hour glass.  I have timed it carefully and it seems to drain in fifty-nine minutes and fifty-nine seconds.  Static resistance seems to hold back a seconds worth of sand.  The hour glass both practically and metaphorically is important in my life. 

The time I give to writing this blog serves the purpose to purpose my time.  I am not just trying to be clever there.  I share it in hopes that others will ask questions, share thoughts, and perhaps gain a grain or two of truth.  Mostly it is to measure out the grains of time in a way that is purposeful.

Terry Pratchett uses the symbol of the hour glass as his personification of death’s method of measuring lives.  I highly recommend his books.  That metaphor resonates so well with me.  I realize so clearly that there are more grains in the bottom of my hour glass than in the top.  The sand will keep falling no matter what I do with the time.

Each grain, each piece of time matters.  I see more clearly how precious they are.  I do not yet get to use each grain in the way I wish but I am growing closer.  Even when the uses of my pieces of time are not what I wish I am still obligated to use them well.  Even when others redirect their pieces of time in ways that take them out of my sphere I am obligated to love and care for them.  I can only use the time I am given. 

“Time is the crucible in which we burn.”   I begin to feel time gaining on me.  I begin to see that each grain falls at constant unrelenting pace.  Caught in the slipstream I must direct my flight through time in a way that shows that I am seeking Christ in every moment.  Since Jesus is both eternal and omnipresent there is no moment where he is not there waiting for me to follow.  It is my obligation to give each moment he gives me back to him.  Each piece of time must be used in following as closely as I can.  If I can do this then everything else will work itself out as it should. 

Closing Time – Semisonic

Closing time: Open all the doors and let you out into the world

Closing time: Turn the lights up over every boy and every girl.

Closing time: One last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer.

Closing time: You don't have to go home but you can't stay here.

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

Take me home

Closing time: Time for you to go out to the places you will be from.

Closing time: This room won't be open 'til your brothers or you sisters come.

So gather up your jackets, and move it to the exits,

I hope you have found a friend.

Closing time: Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Yeah, I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

Take me home

Closing time: Time for you to go out to the places you will be from

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

Take me home

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

I know who I want to take me home.

Take me home

Closing time: Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Pieces of Time – Friends and Family

Greetings Dear Reader,

These may be some of the most precious pieces of time to me.  This summer my Son and Grandsons have been coming over for a swim and dinner.  The excitement in those small boys over something so simple brings me great joy. 

There are friends with whom I have good conversation.  There is family that I cherish moments with when I can get them.  It is these pieces of time that create memories.  It is these moments that give us the bonds that endure the hard pieces of time.

It is in those moments that I find the opportunity to be more than self-serving and solitary.  A simple dinner or a good conversation can remind me why Jesus wants us to love everyone.  It is in wanting to be better for others in those pieces of time that I find the courage to face the solitary pieces.

Everyone matters.  Everyone has needs.  One never knows when a kind word or simple conversation can make a difference.   Perhaps the moments when we pay attention to the needs of others are the best.  We can make a difference if we are vigilant.

We also need to realize that others may not do the same for us.  We must offer our pieces of time without expectation.  It is in these moments of being a true friend of family member that we can find the richness that is in our fellow travelers.  The journey can be so much better if we use our pieces of time to care for each other.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Pieces of Time – Working A Job

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have had jobs I hated and jobs I loved.  Teaching was the best outside job I ever loved.  I love my current job as well.  There were others jobs that I hated.  It was hard to go to those jobs and give my pieces of time. 

It is not just the particular job.  It is the people for who one works.  It is the people with whom one works as well.  Any working part of the journey can be made easier when one works with good people or for a good cause.

So many of us work jobs we hate or with people we dislike.   The jobs we hate part is something we can control.  We could truly decide to pursue our best destinies.  We could choose to change our careers to that which inspires us.  There is always a way to change this if we are willing to do the work and take the risk.

We have less control over those for whom or with whom we work.  My approach is to be good to everyone.  Even those who are hard to work with are worthy of love and kindness.  The opportunity at my job is to do all that I can to evidence the love of Christ in every moment. 

Until I can only write for a living I must work another job.  It is also good for me to have the human interaction that is not there in the isolation of writing.  All that I do at my job is an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.  The work I do impacts the needs of those around me.  The way in which I do it impacts my coworkers.

The job I currently have is a blessing.  I work with good people.  I have good leadership.  I am allowed to help others through my work.  The life I trade for money at this job is worth it.  Until it is time for the next thing I am content.  I wish the same for you Dear Reader.  I wish for you to find the path that fulfills you.  Do not chase money.  It is a tool not an end.

My Grandfather used to always say, “Do what you love and the money will come.”  A world where we all do that could be a very peaceful place.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Pieces of Time - Writing

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am driven to write.  The words that flow through my mind must escape somehow.  Currently they flow through my fingers.  I would that they could go directly from my mind to the page but that is not yet possible.  I give pieces of time to writing so that I do not go mad.

It is also something that I love.  At the center of my being there lives a story teller and a teacher.  Writing allows me to do both.  It also helps me to learn.  I must read to write.  If I do not I am trying to drink from a dried up well.  This helps greatly in learning new things. 

My commitment is to write every day.  I give some of my life to writing daily.  These pieces of time serve me even if I have not yet realized the benefit from them I wish.  I do this because it is what recreates me.

You Dear Reader are one of the reasons I write.  If you gain some small benefit from my work then I am pleased.  It is in your thoughts and questions I find some of my motivation.  It is in your gaining something that makes your day a little better that I find reward.

I also write because I refuse to ignore the gifts I have been given.  Part of following Christ is using what he provides for me with all my heart.  So I face the blank page daily to offer up some pieces of life. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Pieces of Time – Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hate (yes that is a strong word) money.  Loving it leads to evil.  The problem is that money is the object we use to conduct transactions for food, shelter, and clothing.  It is what we recognize as our bartering chips.  Money is what we use to buy things.

This system causes us to disconnect from what really happens.  I work at a job.  I perform tasks and in exchange for those tasks I am given money.  The piece of this that we fail to see is that what we really do is this:  Everything we get is bought with pieces of time.  The time I put in at work gives me the object that I use to buy things.  In short, I exchange pieces of my life for things. 

In this mindset I must ask then for what am I exchanging today?  I must consider them that for which I exchange my life.  My physical life is finite.  It has an expiration date that is not given to me.  In light of that it is vital for me to redeem time in a way that makes me worthy of it.

I must ponder that for which I will trade my life.  I must assure that each day is one for which I can retire from having used it well.  I must do this out of joy for life and my love for Christ.  I will spend some time pondering how I use my pieces of time.  If you choose to spend the time with me Dear Reader I hope you offer some questions or insight.  I treasure the time you share with me. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Meat and Bones – Giving

Greetings Dear Reader,

First I would be clear that giving time, talent, effort, and funds to the Gospel is a good thing.  These things are opportunities to share the generosity that is part of the Gospel.  It is truly better to give than to receive.

That said, there are aspects of giving that have nothing to do with following Christ.  Instead these aspects are contrary to what Christ calls us to be as his followers.  The bones of giving do much more damage than good.

The first of these is coerced giving.  Whenever we give out of guilt or manipulation we are not doing so out of the fullness of our hearts.  The organizations that use these methods to promote giving are not representing an honest view of following Christ.

We must also not push people to give to merit God’s favor.  We already covered that.  We cannot earn God’s favor in any way.  We cannot give all we have and earn a moment of favor.  Giving does not buy us anything from God.

Giving must be done out of love.  We must give because we want to show love to others.  We must give because we do not wish other to go without.  We give out of gratitude for the blessings provided to us by the Father.

It will be said that all the church cares about is money.  At times that allegation is true.  When you look deeper you will find Christ followers who give from the heart.  That is what I must be.  I must give our of love for others.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

The Boundaries of Faith - Money

Greetings Dear Reader,

I hate money.  Now you will not often see me use the word “hate”.  I hate that we put so much of our lives into the getting of money.  I do not mind work.  I do not mind that we have to have commerce of some kind.  I do hate that we spend the bulk of our waking hours pursuing the money to do the things we love.

The way in which Christ followers are to handle money is very important.  Jesus was very clear that we are not to pursue wealth.  He was clear that we are to be generous with what we have.  We seem to so easily forget that we are to trust God for all of our provision.

Our lack of money and belief can become a boundary to our faith.  It is not possible to pursue money and follow Christ.  Christ promises us that we will not want if we pursue him.  He also promises that we cannot serve God and money. 

When we take on too much debt we are unable to take on more faith.  When we pursue meeting out own needs we do not allow God to meet them and become less attuned to the needs of others.  Paul said it so clearly, “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” 

If we remove the barrier from our faith we will see that God can and will provide.  I realize that it sounds simplistic and perhaps even puerile.   Then again the faith Christ asks us to have is the faith of a child.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)