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My Time Ticks!
DR Jalarth Uche Opara
After the death of a friend an active and productive member of my parish it dawned on me more strongly than ever before: the vanity of life.
I decided to become more deliberate about my life — to examine my ways, tick the boxes I had ignored, and close the cracks that may exist between me and the people around me. To mend relationships where necessary and remove the silent burdens that could slow my journey when the bell finally tolls. So I reached out to many people. I asked them a simple but honest question: Where do I stand with you? And in places where I sensed I might not be standing well, I asked for forgiveness.
Some found it strange.
Some were surprised.
But others understood the spirit behind it the desire to live intentionally. It was not driven by fear of death. No. It was driven by the desire to live rightly while time still speaks.
After all, Scripture reminds us that even the righteous stumble many times in a day. If that is true, then humility and reconciliation must become part of our daily discipline.Time ticks.Nothing we do can silence that sound.
Every tick of our life’s clock draws us closer to our destination a moment none of us can predict, postpone, or negotiate.
That is the quiet mystery of our existence.
So it is wise, perhaps even necessary, to constantly check with the people in our lives those we meet daily, those we work with, those who carry pieces of our emotional world.
Ask them: Have I hurt you without knowing?
Did I speak a word that wounded you unknowingly?
Did I act in a way that scorched your feelings while I remained unaware?
And if the answer is yes, apologize sincerely, and without the need to justify yourself.
Because time ticks.
Life is full of vanities, and unless we are intentional about weeding them out, we may carry unnecessary burdens that could weigh heavily on us when it matters most.Take responsibility for your daily walk with people.
Straighten what can be straightened.
Heal what can be healed.
Lighten your journey while there is still time.
For time ticks…
and the vanity of life remains one of the deepest realities of our existence.
While I was at the deceased place to pay a condolence visit to the bereaved something happened.
I met a friend and brother who used a certain word on another brother two days ago which the brother found offensive. He didn’t know it was offensive to the brother. He used the word losely without intending any insult but it was an arrow in the brother’s heart.
When I told him how hurt the brother was, he asked for his number, called and apologised and they were good again. Many may be bearing grudges over something you knew nothing about. Through a deliberate routine check with those around you, mending fences becomes easier.
Our time ticks
— Jarlath Uche
Jarlathuche@gmail.com