Time

One of the few things we really can't receive, only give, is time. It's interesting in that way... On a daily basis we are given only so much time. Some of us have very little time on any given day, as every day people die.

So, would I say that the importance of time is tied to our ultimate mortality, and with a deep underlying fear / fascination with the concept of death? No, I feel that the importance of time is separate from the importance of death and life.

I see time as a gift given to us by God. Now we can do whatever we want to with this gift, it's like being given money by a loved one. Both money and time are limited - in that there is a finite amount of it that anyone can have at any given point in time. Additionally, there is only so much you can do with your time - you are limited by your mortal constraints (this would be similar to the age old adage, money can't buy everything). Your time is also extremely easy to waste, and does get wasted, just like money. The major difference here though, is that only God can give time. It is a precious commodity, it isn't something that can or should be spent without careful thought. Before making any major purchase, most people would think on whether it is important to buy, whether they are getting a good price, and whether or not the value is there for whatever they are buying. I don't feel enough of us do this with our time. How many hours do I waste on trivial things that do not matter? How many hours do I lose, that I could truly be doing something else with.

Now don't get me wrong here, I'm not saying that having fun is a waste of a precious resource, far from it - I feel that we need to set aside time for fun, games, laughter, work, prayer... all of these things need our energies and our time. However, I do feel that when I look on a typical day, I don't seem to care what I do with my time... this is truly sad...

In our Isma'ili Ginanic tradition, there exist several examples where our Pirs (The Isma'ili equivalent of a Saint) say that (and I paraphrase) there will come a day, when your days will be like water running through your hands.

When I look back on my life, another interesting observation I have made. Time seems to have sped up for me. This is probably an illusion caused by many possible factors, but when I look back on my childhood, I remember days dragging on, and I remember wishing so often that they would end. I haven't made a wish like that in a while... even the toughest days at work, don't seem as long as those endless days of my younger years.

I don't know if this is true or not but... it is something that has made me think, and that's always a good thing. Maybe I don't want to waste my time, maybe I don't want my days to pass like water through my hands, maybe... just maybe... I am actually scared of what happens next?