WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024 - TIME

 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024  - TIME

I don’t remember when I got my first watch, but I’ve never been without one since then. I am controlled by time.  

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From Chicago’s “Does Anybody Know What Time It Is”   

As I was walking down the street one day

A man came up to me and asked me

What the time was that was on my watch

Yeah, and I said

Does anybody really know what time it is?

Does anybody really care?

(About time) you know, I can't imagine why

(Oh no, no) we've all got time enough to cry

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I have a radio clock by my bed and in my living room.  I look at my microwave frequently - to see the time.  I have an analogy clock on my wall.  When I visit my friend RP, I reset her microwave and stove clock.  

About a month ago, my watch “died”.  It really didn’t stop, but the band was wearing out (and looked pretty ratty).  And, I KNEW my Christmas present to myself - a smartwatch.  

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I don’t know the brand (it is NOT an Apple Watch).  It has too many functions (and some that I’m learning).  I got it on Amazon - and got a deal on it (my fanaticism for time is matched with my fanaticism for cheap).  I somehow had some leftover funds, so I spent less than ten dollars on it (mostly for shipping and handling.) [I think it was about $40 originally]

So, yes, it has the time of day (12-hour or 24-hour display).  But it has functions to tell my blood pressure, blood oxygen, pulse rate, a stopwatch and timer, my calls get forwarded to the watch (via Bluetooth), and it plays music (from my phone).  

It doesn’t always show the time (I don’t like that, but I’m working on it).  If I shake it, it “wakes” up and shows the time.  I also don’t know how to break the connection between my iPhone and the watch.  I’m dog-sitting this week, and I brought my Bluetooth speaker to listen to an audiobook - but my watch keeps playing.  I tried to disconnect my phone but couldn’t get it to break the connection.  Listening to an audiobook on my watch isn’t the same as playing the book to the whole apartment. 

It keeps track of my steps (but my phone does a better job).

A feature that I like is the sleep function.  My watch records my sleep time - light sleep and heavy sleep.  Sleep is an important function to me.

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But, as I reflect on time, I think about the Godly concept of time. I believe that God (however you view him/her/it/The Force/Om) is beyond time.  

Psalm 90:4 says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  

If God is infinite - what is a day to God?  We sing (in the last verse of Amazing Grace),

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than, when we first begun

I have to ask my finite human brain, fixed on TIME, "Can I have a watch in Heaven?  Can I take my SmartWatch to Heaven with me?  

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As I write this, I’m a little worried about time.  I didn’t get my walk in yesterday - and I probably won’t get it in today.  I didn’t get my Duolingo German lesson done.  I haven’t played my Words With Friends yet.  I haven’t finished my blog for tomorrow yet.  I haven’t finished my weekly Bridge Blog yet.  Where does the time go?

I am an expert in wasting time (okay, that is just hype - I’m not an expert in anything).  I don’t even watch television that much.  In my dog-sitting gig, I have the television on - I’m rationalizing it as it keeps the dogs entertained. 

Ephesians 5:17-18 says, “ "Making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand the will of the Lord". 

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AND - I have three calendars in my tiny apartment.  

With a new smartwatch in the new year, I may need to be less focused on time - and more on what makes sense for me and what is important to me.

I do know that LOVE does WIN 

I do know that I am to LIVE LOVE and to SHOW LOVE

I know that infinity is a LONG, LONG, LONG time.

Karen Anne White, ©, January 3rd, 2024