I sat down to write this article nearly 4 and half hours ago but got caught-up “catching-up” with my email. Where did the time go?  This is a common occurrence in my life and I am not alone with this problem.  There seems to be a relentless demand for my time and quite frankly I wish I had more of it to go around- time that is! And time management skills.

Everywhere I go I hear someone saying something about time: what time is it now, do we have enough time, it’s time to go, now is the time, you’ve run out of time, it’s about time, he’s on borrowed time!  Everyone is trying to spend their time wisely, but some are wasting theirs.

Some are trying to make more time while others are trying to buy theirs and still others are refusing to even give you the time.  And what about those sad folk who have simply missed their time or lost it all together.

I once participated in a conversation with a group of very bright friends who were discussing the question: what is the single-most important thing in life?  One fellow argued that nothing compared to financial success because with success came freedom to do whatever one wanted along with freedom from financial stress.  An older woman, an accomplished Professor from a major university, suggested that he was being naïve.  Certainly, she said, nothing is more important than knowledge and wisdom for they alone are the keys to unlocking the universe. 

A prominent surgeon countered by saying that they were all wrong; health he exclaimed is the most precious, for without health one would have nothing.  Another member of the group suggested that love was the answer. (I suggested she write a song!) A noted theologian laughed at the group and asked how they could ignore the power of spirituality and belief in a higher being. But agreement wasn’t reached.

And then, the octogenarian in our group, a white haired, psychotherapist with gentle blue eyes, who had been listening intently, cleared his throat and spoke.  “I think you have all made compelling arguments and this discussion has been most stimulating.  Let me suggest one other idea.  Go to an old–age home and ask this question of those who have lived their lives and have the benefit of life’s experiences.  They will tell you nothing is more precious than time!  They will tell you how they long for another sip from the cup of time so that they can spend it with their children and grand-children. They will not cry for their youth or the money and possessions they no longer have.”