For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
Lord,
you created time,
You created light and darkness:
the light you called day;
the darkness you called night.
You put the sun and the moon
and the stars in the heavens
to mark the times and the seasons.
You give us time.
Often I find myself saying
"I need to make time to do... such-and-so."
But I can't MAKE time that's what you do.
No, instead I need to TAKE time --
take the time you have given me
and do something significant, like...
marvel at the wondrous of your creation,
listen deeply to the voice of another,
laugh and play like a child,
examine the small details around me,
grieve the death of a loved one,
be angry about an injustice,
dance with my beloved,
be at peace in your love,
pray -- share my concerns and listen to yours,
reflect on my life: Who am I really?
dream your dreams: Who is God drawing me to be?
evaluate my goals: How am I responding to God's desires for me?
make a difference in one other person's life,
speak about one good thing you have done for me recently.
There is time.
Time for every purpose.
Remind me, Lord, to
Take Time.
Amen.