The concept of ‘time’ is one of God’s most beautiful creations. Simple to discern, yet intricate to understand, it is another of life’s many paradoxes.

Albeit not a statement of fact, one might be forgiven if one describes the passage of time in life’s context as less of a chronological event and more of a psychological experience. The two Greek words for time, Chronos and Kairos best explain this paradoxical distinction. Chronos (Chronological) is sequential, linear time; while Kairos is time revealed in its depth dimension. For example, the day a child is born might seem just another passing day (Chronos) to most people, but to the child’s parents, it is a transcendental event (Kairos) that determines the quality of every subsequent day in that family’s history.

In childhood and adolescence, the idea of time appears infinite. However, on our pathway to adulthood, we imbibe a plethora of cultural or societal lexicon, often from our predecessors, and like most things quantifiable, we quickly learn how to worry about whether we have enough of it or not. We are told, "Don’t waste time", "Time waits for no one", "Time is of the essence", and "Time is money" – hence we become afraid of losing it, running out of it, or being consumed by it. As we grow older, the juxtaposition of an endless to-do list and unfulfilled dreams alongside the beckoning of our inevitable appointment with old age and death creates an increased sense of urgency and sometimes, anxiety. Despite our relentless efforts to keep track of it or control it, ‘chronos’ time continues to pass and evade us.

While chronos is quantitative, kairos on the other hand is the qualitative time of life. Often referred to as an opportune time, kairos is theologically referenced in the New Testament 86 times to denote “the appointed time in the purpose of God”.

Today I’m reminded of the apocryphal tale of Abraham who was 75 years of age when he first received God’s promise of a son, a promise that did not materialise for another 25 years when he had turned 100 years of age and his wife Sarah 90. Despite his many efforts to circumvent or truncate the actualisation of this promise, everything proved futile until God’s appointed time. Perhaps a lesson to learn from biblical stories of this ilk in our journey of life is that; “for us to grasp the concept of kairos, we have to let go of our anxiety and control of chronos”. The longer one continues to view time through the lens of what we’ve been taught or acquired, the more likely we are to conceive or view life only as a chronological succession of moments measured by clocks and calendars. Kairos however renders a depth of perspective, an invitation to let go of our anxiety and instead lean into the belief that for everything there’s an appointed time, a season. This way, we are able to stand in our present circumstances (good or bad) and find the courage to ask, “what is this time for?; what is this season trying to teach me?” And then to take the time to listen and to act. This way, we are better able to enjoy the passage of time meaningfully, rather than trying to control it.

Remember - “For everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under the heavens - Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Peace, Love & Light.