What Time Is it?

I woke up during the night on Monday/Tuesday and heard a program on the TV which caused me to think "Why is that show on? It's Sunday morning."

(I know, we're not to supposed to sleep with the TV on, but we do.)

But then I had to figure out why, in the fog of sleep, I thought it was Sunday morning rather than Tuesday.

I decided it was because I hadn't gone to church on Sunday. Dave shared his cold with me, and rather than share my cough and sneezes with everyone else I stayed home on Sunday morning.

It means I missed my cue that tells me where I am in time.

Sunday's cue is church.

Monday's cue is chorus rehearsal. That was how I figured out it was Tuesday, because I knew I had just been to rehearsal.

Wednesday is Bible study and church choir rehearsal.

I find that without those cues I sometimes lose track of where I am in the week.

There are also cues that tell me where I am in the year. Advent means it's almost Christmas. Lent means it's almost Easter. Easter means it's almost spring. Lent means it's time for various family birthdays. Reformation means it's Halloween, and time for another family birthday. Dave's birthday I just have to remember, nothing cues me for an early August date. (Don't believe him if he says I forgot his birthday one year. I did not forget it was his birthday, I simply forgot to get him anything for it.)

My generation grew up singing a slightly reworded section from the Bible, probably not realizing it was from the Bible:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

(And for those who were singing along and need to finish the song: And a time to every purpose, under Heaven)

In the church year, this is the time to prepare for our biggest celebration: the glorious resurrection and redemption of Christ.

What time is it for you?

-- Ann Warner