What Time is It?

"The LORD replied, “Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it" - Habakkuk 1:5 (NLT)

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way" - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

Of all the quotes one could pull out of literary history, perhaps none is more apropos than the above one taken from Dickens.

And, of all the pictures I could have placed in this entry, none speak more to my life than the one above...a broken clock, waiting to be fixed, and placed out in the garage (out of sight, out of mind, you know)...until there is "time" to fix it.I'm not sure about you but sometimes I feel like that clock. Broken. Waiting to be fixed.
And, often, our world, our culture, our communities, our families, all feel like that clock. Broken and waiting to be fixed.

We all feel like we have "time" to get our lives together, heal that broken relationship, obtain that better job, start giving to those less fortunate, plant a tree, read the Bible, "get right with God"...Yeah, we all think we have more time. More time for things to get better. More time for us to get better.

But do we? Really?

The above scripture from the obscure prophet Habakkuk (aren't you glad there is not a test here to pronounce the name properly?) does not necessarily have a happy ending. It is not what you might think. At first glance of the single verse from above it seems that God is going to do something great - "Just wait and see!" But, that is not what occurs.

First, Habakkuk is crying out to God in full blown complaint - that God is allowing violence and other atrocities to happen. Why is Yahweh not stopping it? Where is he? Why does he not do anything about it?

Well, God replies.

And he is going to do something about it -

I am raising up the Chaldeans that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand. They scoff at kings and make rulers an object of scorn. They laugh at every fortress and build up siege ramps to seize it. Then they sweep by like the wind and pass on through.

Yikes.

So, let's get this straight. It's actually going to get worse?

I would say that alot of people have that feeling now.

Riots in the UK? Gangs overrunning apartments in Colorado? AI deepfakes? Groceries costing 30% more while wages remain stagnant? ChatGPT writing for everyone? People being arrested for what they say? Social media dividing us even more?

Yet, even if it does get worse, hear what Habakkuk says at the end of his writings...

Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights!

So, what does this mean for all of us? Well, we do have time. We are also running out of time. And things, well, they just might not get any better. As a matter of fact, they just may take a turn for the worse.

That said, no matter what we may face - no matter what may or may not be heading our way - we need to be fixing what we can (of ourselves) while we still have time and maintain a hopeful, if not joyful, outlook. And, quite honestly, no one is capable of doing this on their own. No one person is that strong.

And with apologies to Hillary Clinton, a village is not even enough.

It takes Divine intervention. It takes God.

I finished reading a wonderful memoir of sorts this a couple of weeks ago. It is written by a dear friend, Marsy Powell Hollander. In her book (and she's written more than one) "Floating Above Myself" she recalls a life of struggle, abuse, violence, abandonment, frustration, and isolation. And that's just the first couple of chapters...

But, her story - and you need to read it ( Floating Above Myself: Hollander, Marsy Powell: 9781691528424: Amazon.com: Books) - doesn't end with pain and loss. It concludes, and is still being written, with grace, restoration, hope and joy. Your story? It could be the same as well..

So, if you've taken the five minutes to read this might I encourage you with these words - also, from the Scriptures? "'The thief comes into this world to steal and destroy. I came that you may have life...and have it in abundance'" (John 10:10). And, my friend, Jesus wants you to have an abundant life...not based on things, but based on him. Now, go, while you still have time...start working on yourself. Start working on what you can.

I'll do the same. Afterall, I have a clock to try and fix - among other things...