Time sometimes needs to be converted. There is Chronis, mere chronological time, and there is Kairos, a New Testament Greek word having to do with opportunity, with moments that seem ripe for their intended purposes.
Our tendency as humans is to look at time as chronology, as a series of disconnected incidents, happenings and accidents. We divide this time up into days, hours and minutes.
Time becomes a means to an end and not moments in which we allow ourselves opportunities to enjoy God and to pay attention to others.
Henri Nouwen, one of my favorite authors, says time is the arena of God’s work with us. “Whatever happens-good things or bad, pleasant or problematic-we look and ask, “What might God be doing here?”
Can we see the events of the day as continuing opportunities in which God might change our hearts? Speak to us? Cause us to notice something we never noticed before? Grow us emotionally or spiritually?
Growth is a slow process, and we are part of an impatient culture.
Can we see the events of the day as holding opportunities for us? To allow time to see and ask, “What might God be doing here?”
I am trying to see more things with Kairos.
Blessings,
Thora
Love this.. Great Reminder. What God may be doing here?
I was just thinking about chronis versus kairos today. What a confirmation.
When we first learned about the difference of Chronis and Kairos, I was so intrigued. I loved this post and the way you spoke to both. God’s timing is always perfect.