Making Time

So, in my previous post I wrote about Glennon - the author of "Momastery" and talked about one of her posts titled, "Don't Carpe Diem." One of the things she said that has really stuck with me was her description of the two types of time, Chronos and Kairos.  Here's what she said about Kairos:

"Kairos is God’s time. It’s time outside of time. It’s metaphysical time. Kairos is those magical moments in which time stands still. I have a few of those moments each day, and I cherish them."

Ever since reading that, I have taken special notice of my time.  Or maybe more than that I have had something to call my time, a way to refer to it.  Work time is, of course, mostly Chronos time. Glennon described Chronos time like this:

"Chronos time is what we live in. It’s regular time, it’s one minute at a time, it’s staring down the clock till bedtime time, it’s ten excruciating minutes in the Target line time, it’s four screaming minutes in time out time, it’s two hours till daddy gets home time. Chronos is the hard, slow passing time we parents often live in." 

I don't think Chronos time belongs only parents, but also to girls who like sunshine and running and who are stuck at a desk most of the day.  So I count it as my work time, although I will say that Kairos moments do sneak in from time to time, even at work. 

Still, while at work, while running in the mornings, while spending time with my niece and nephew, while sitting on the couch talking to Jason, while giving my pup a squeeze, while laughing with my sister on the phone, in my mind I am thinking about what type of time it is...like I am on the hunt for Kairos moments.  It doesn't seem so different from the idea in "One Thousand Gifts" where we take special notice of the blessings that fill each moment.  I've been thinking about the idea of Kairos time in tandem with the idea of counting my blessings and actually writing them down.  I think the act of counting and noticing and being aware of all God's gifts to me during the day actually makes for more Kairos time. 

It goes back to that idea of only having room for one feeling at a time.  If I am busy being thankful for whatever gift God has sent my way in this moment, maybe I will not focus on my impatience with the long lasting Chronos time, but on the simple face that I've just had a gift...a Kairos moment. 

Its my way of making time.  Marking time.  Turning Chronos into Kairos as often as possible.

And here's something else I want to say.  I hope that my occasional posts about moms and how they present motherhood to the rest of us are not offensive. That is never my intent, just like I understand that a tired, frazzled mother's intent when she says she is tired and frazzled is not to turn me off to motherhood.  I strive every day to deal with people, their words and actions, with grace, not judgement.  I was reminded this past Sunday from Romans that those who judge convict themselves because they do the same things they are judging others for doing.  It was convicting.  A powerful reminder to seek understanding and grace instead of looking down my nose at other people's wrong doings.  I'm pretty aware of my own and they leave me no room to point fingers.

So, on the occasion that I drift away from the lovely topic of running to other matters of life that I am still learning about and exploring, please, dear reader, deal with me gently as well.

Now, in the words of Glennon, get out there and seize a couple of Kairoses today!