Having an extra hour must be embraced

You may find yourself lingering this morning. Perhaps you were able to relish in the steam and aroma from the second or even third cup of coffee. Casually flipping through the paper marking the sale ads, clipping coupons and enjoying every article and editorial. Or perhaps you were able to catch up on some well-earned sleep. After all, you've fallen back. The annual blessing of the extra hour is relished. Creating a slight sense of uneasiness that will pass with a few days of this new routine.

A few years ago while living on the edge of the Eastern time zone I had to travel into the heart of Indiana. Indiana, at least where I was traveling not only did not practice daylight saving time but was in the Central time zone. I didn't know this; at least not until I arrived at my destination.

Like most trips I planned out my directions, looked at the schedule and set my alarm clock the night before so I would have enough time to get to my destination.

Day one of my two-day conference I left with plenty of time. It turns out that I had hours of time. Not only was I ahead because of the time zone, I was extremely ahead due to daylight saving time.

In fact when I left to travel home that evening I actually arrived home five to ten minutes before I left the workshop.

Time, at least in our culture, is the most valuable commodities. We plan for it, payout enormous amounts of money every year to finally figure out how to use it well and even try to save it. Yet for every 24 hours we have, 24 1/2 would be better.

In the first chapter of the letter to the Philippian church there is a prayer that says, "I'm praying that you grow in love for God's truth and each other so that you may prove what really matters."

We must take the intentional time to embrace what really matters. God made time for us to relish in it. We must give ourselves permission from him to use it in the satisfaction of a job well done and in resting well. Time is always used up, never kept. It must always be embraced.

By the way, in case you forgot, set your clock back today.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father, minister and writer. Read more from him at www.robhurtgen.wordpress.com.