Who's Time is it Anyway?

“Lewis Carroll was a storyteller . . . There’s a story of a small village [whose clockmaker died] leaving no children and no apprentice.   . . . Soon various clocks and watches began to break down . . . so many of the villagers abandoned their timepieces.

“One day a renowned clockmaker and repairer came through the village, and the people crowded around him and begged him to fix their broken clocks and watches.   . . . At last he announced that he could repair only those whose owners had kept them wound, because they were the only ones which would be able to remember how to keep time.

“So we must daily keep things wound: that is, we must pray when prayer seems dry as dust; we must write when we are physically tired, when our hearts are heavy, when our bodies are in pain.

“We may not always be able to make our ‘clock’ run correctly, but at least we can keep it wound so that  [we] will not forget.” Madeleine L’Engle Walking on Water clock

There seems to be a consistent (or persistent?) thread weaving through my life of late. That of TIME. I posted recently about what I would do if I learned I only had a year left to live. The basis of that post came from a new book that delves into just such a situation. Clocks are (almost) God in the lives of people in A Time to Die. Your importance to society is based on how long you have to be of use.

That book refreshed my awareness of not wasting the resource of time. “Teach me to number my days” still presents it’s scriptural reminder to me on my mirror each morning.  It is a nudge needed more often than I care to admit.

Today’s quote from ML’E brings up that ‘clock’ imagery again. This time, referring to the old-school method of winding a watch or clock. Yes, I am ‘mature’ enough to have owned this type of watch! Such a timepiece can be acquired even today, if desired. Frankly, it’s a bit of mechanical genius, strapped to your wrist. Batteries shmatteries. Wind that little knob once a day and you’re good to go for, like, ever 😉

I love the idea that keeping up with the things we value, our relationships or gifting, needs to be a practiced habit. You’ve heard it said: “Use it or lose it.” That would be an apt summation of the point ML’E made with such eloquence. Perhaps I love it because it is where I’ve been living of late.

It isn’t coincidence that this quote came on a day when, during my quiet time, I complained that I felt dry and as if I’m but going through the motions. Nor does this reminder come by chance when I’ve been working on the same spot in my novel for the past three months. I’m encouraged to look at my daily plodding in a different light, thanks to the above story.

I am practicing the art of practicing. Who knew that such a statement could be more than redundant? By keeping the wheels oiled, and my motor running (even though it feels like it’s merely idling) I am keeping my clock wound. Yay, me!

No, that should be: Yay, God!  He is the one that ‘timed’ my frustration with this bit of literary encouragement. When He, the Clockmaker, decides I’m ready, He will set my watch to be synced with His . . . and I won’t need a battery, a jumpstart, or a swift kick in the britches. He will lead me from the dry, spiritual desert I’m in to green pastures and still waters. He will cause me to wrestle through the situation in my novel until the creative faucet gets flowing again.wristwatch

My job is to show up. To wind the clock. To be watching for the Clockmaker.

That’s easy enough. I’ve got the time.

Are you keeping your ‘clock’ wound? Sheep follow the shepherd and writers write. Are you being faithful in the little things? Have you been through the motions and, eventually, connected to the e–motions necessary to operate beyond the discipline of the intellect? Please share your story! It would be an encouragement to me.

11 comments on “Who's Time is it Anyway?” Add yours →

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  1. Heather,

    Wonderful thoughts. At work I am constantly reminded about the time, everything we do has to be accounted for down to the minute. It seems like it takes more time to keep track of the time. The motto of the company is “The World on Time.” I modify it to the “World on time, plus or minus five minutes.” Ha ha.

    But you are right in that time is the one thing that is really important and how we spend that time says a lot about who we are. Great article.

    1. Hi Rob! Good to hear from you! I probably know this, but it’s 6:45 am after a late night (not much “time” spent sleeping, LOL)…where do you work? Interesting motto for a company…must be impacting people on a large scale.

      I can’t imagine having to account for every minute! Yet that would probably be a shocking revelation to me–to see how much I am constantly wasting–if I were to try it. I can see where it would also be a bit time consuming to have to bother with such a detail.

      I’m going to have to swing over to your blog and catch up. It’s gotten to where I have quite a few I TRY to follow…and they don’t all appear in my feed when I have time to check (usually from my phone app). Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  2. Heather,

    Wonderful thoughts. At work I am constantly reminded about the time, everything we do has to be accounted for down to the minute. It seems like it takes more time to keep track of the time. The motto of the company is “The World on Time.” I modify it to the “World on time, plus or minus five minutes.” Ha ha.

    But you are right in that time is the one thing that is really important and how we spend that time says a lot about who we are. Great article.

    1. Hi Rob! Good to hear from you! I probably know this, but it’s 6:45 am after a late night (not much “time” spent sleeping, LOL)…where do you work? Interesting motto for a company…must be impacting people on a large scale.

      I can’t imagine having to account for every minute! Yet that would probably be a shocking revelation to me–to see how much I am constantly wasting–if I were to try it. I can see where it would also be a bit time consuming to have to bother with such a detail.

      I’m going to have to swing over to your blog and catch up. It’s gotten to where I have quite a few I TRY to follow…and they don’t all appear in my feed when I have time to check (usually from my phone app). Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  5. Wonderful post, Heather. This is something I need to hear and remember! I’m apt to not follow through on things I should be consistent in, if I’m not “feeling it” at the moment. Convicting. It’s good to be reminded that even just “showing up” is important, winding my clock so I can keep going and not get rusty and stop working altogether.