On Just a Little More Time

             I awakened early this morning, though it wasn’t 0-dark-thirty—more like 6 a.m. I had been dreaming about my partner, who I endearingly called “Butthead.” He always responded with a smile and said, “Beavis.” He passed away a little over a year ago and, as I rose out of the fog of sleep, in my dream I had told my daughter, “I just wish I had a little more time with him.”

Eyes wide open, I gave the dream some thought and decided, No. That would not have been fair to him. He had suffered enough. And truth be known, had I been given more time, I would have wanted even more. We humans are like that.

From infancy on, we want to be given more time than allotted. Infants want more time to be held, to receive the full attention of Mom and Dad instead of going to sleep; toddlers ferociously fight nap time as they don’t want to concede their time of playing. “Just a minute,” is a familiar response from teens when their parents want them to stop their video game activities or time with friends.

We adults do not differ. We want “just a little more time” when our children need us as we socialize with friends. “Just one more drink” or “one more round” beckons while at the casino. It is hard to walk away when we are having a good time.

I maintain humankind does exactly the same thing when confronted with making a spiritual decision—Just give me a little more time, God, to think about you. I’ll get back to you later on these matters.

One basic problem exists, though. We have no control over the game clock in our lives. He does. When time runs out, it runs out. Extra seconds or minutes will not be added back on due to a mistake.

This takes me back to my dream. We always want “a little more time” with those who have passed. But that’s not how it works. There is “A time to be born, and a time to die.” [1]

And my final thought: “Seek the Lord while He may be found . . . “[2] We do not control the clock. Our Creator does. Do not be found wishing you had "just a little more time."

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[1] Ecclesiastes 3:2 NKJV

[2] Isaiah 55:6 NRSVUE