We have a saying in our culture that time is money. I live as if time was everything. My time is my gift. My energy, my presence in the world. Every Friday I spend my day playing with a 2 year old. I served on the school board for 4 years, taking a $40,000 pay cut during that time so I could give of my time. Maybe I could make money charging for child care. Maybe I could make money getting another job rather than volunteering with our community. And at the end of the day I would have money. Now what I have are toddler snuggles, and the joy of playing in the back yard in summer, singing silly songs at music class in the winter, and teaching someone how to watch for other kids on the playground before climbing up the slide. My soul is refreshed and renewed each Friday. I touch something elemental about our human connection and frailty as I share life with a little one. From serving on school board I grew as a leader. Was challenged in tough situations and made some amazing friendships.
Money is important. We need it to function in our society. Yet it is not the essence of our worth or the proof of our productiveness. Our lives tell the tale, Our relationships. our experiences. Yes I have the privilege to make enough money so that I can give away my Fridays. I have the privilege that my mom could support me to take a pay cut and give more freely. Not everyone can give so much of their time in theses ways. Yet all of us can give something. The gift of presence, of listening, of service.
How might you spend your time in being a bridge builder?
How might you be present to someone?
How might you find time for love?
As a new school year begins and life pivots to fall routines may you see time as a gift to share and a blessing to live through.
-Eilidh
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