Time is money. This is the premise of a movie I recently watched 'In time', which certainly rings true in today's society. Time is valuable.
So what I invest my finite amount of time into is a reflection of what I value. And in fact, what I put my time into receives actual value. Take for example my investment into my child with my choice to full-time 'Mum'. Here you see me valuing Motherhood. Malachi also becomes the receiver of full-time care by someone that truly loves him & wants the best for him. His benefit is received by the investment of my time.
The benefit for an investment of time can vary significantly. 1 minute for a peanut butter sandwich. 6 hours for an education on how to do CPR & first aid. 4 years at uni to be a dentist. 18 years of parenting to produce an independent adult. A lifetime to praise God for His mercy. There's the short term, the long term, & the eternal benefits - all of which can & do overlap.
It struck me in the city the other day how selfish the general public are with their time... especially busy working people (perhaps it's because they need to be, given their time is finite). On a train, iPod in, novel open, conversation closed. Walking to work, gaze fixed down, unacknowledging. Maybe it's because I just see the people who are focused on their destination, they're not on the train just because they want to! They opt for keeping their time to themselves because what benefit would it be to them to invest time into a stranger? Time is valuable.
Well, hold on while i rock the cultural boat! A few weeks ago I sat & spoke with an Indian family on the train. They had been in Australia for 10 years & I was the first white 'Aussie' who had spoken to them like this! They dripped with authentic thankfulness for an enjoyable conversation as I alighted. Time was invested - & it stood out a mile to these guys!
We all have time to share. Taking public transport & investing in the people you sit around is very achievable. AND it's no waste because you're multitasking your way to your destination! Giving yourself fully in conversation is a gift worth giving.
People notice being valued. & as Christians, it can be a powerful part of sharing about a God who loves them. Valuing & loving others is also what we're called to do - putting them before ourselves. This of course can look like loads of different things, but it definitely includes everyone we have an opportunity to interact with - even strangers. It's up to us to ask God to help us make our investments in people of eternal benefit...
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:19-21)
Since posting this, a friend of mine has helpfully pointed out that my challenge of talking to other commuters is not for everyone's situation. I agree, and just want to clarify that my reference to this was more an example of an area I've been personally challenged in regarding my investment of time. This was not intended to be prescriptive. That said, however, I do want to leave readers considering this as a possible application because of my recent cultural observations (investing in strangers is just not something done!).
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