The year 2018 has ended, but the cycle of God’s grace goes on into this new year of 2019. The edges of all our gatherings and partings are touched by a grace that goes round and round through all the years, through all the transitions, through all the friendships, through all the packing and unpacking.
Since the beginning of human civilization, we have measured the passing of time principally by reference to three natural phenomena which recur at regular intervals - the rising and setting of the sun, the phases of the moon, and the cycle of the seasons. Of course, the causes of each of these phenomena are astronomical - the revolution of the earth on its axis, the orbit of the moon around the earth, and the orbit of the earth around the sun.
Frequently we complain that we don’t have enough time as we tightly grip our cell phones, day planners, and other handheld devices hoping to squeeze out another minute or two. Throughout our lives, we are reminded of “clock time” and frequently feel prisoners to it. This is “chronos” time. “Kairos” time refers to the unique or opportune moment of God’s visitation in our lives that invites a radical or urgent choice and a fundamental spiritual reorientation in our life.
Forget “Chronos;” live in “Kairos.”