2010:365:219 Teatime!

Tempus fugit ...

It seems to be the nature of things that when you're busy the time passes very quickly ... or maybe that's just something that happens with age?

It seems no time since six o'clock this morning ... 

... and here we are just twelve hours later!  A quick visit to a family gathering where one of the drinks on offer was hot beetroot and tarragon served with a tarragon yoghurt ice cube.  It was an interesting combination, although the consensus was that a dash of a hot sauce might be better than the yoghurt, or beetroot chips ... we'll develop the recipe!  The baked cod in a Mediterranean style was a definite success.  The little kiddies (my two great nieces) enjoyed the paddling pool and the elder statesman and I enjoyed the shade!  

Before I know it the clock hands will have passed round more quickly than I like. 

Ten would be a good bedtime, I think ... so that's what I'm aiming for!

This cup and saucer is part of another tea and dinner service that I was given.  The name of the pattern is "Priory" which pleases me!

Now, thinking about time reminded me of a poem by the late Abbe Michel Quoist and with this I finish today's blog. 

"Lord, I have time" 

by Abbe Michel Quoist

All men complain that they haven’t enough time. 

They look at their lives from too human a point of view. 

There is always time to do what God wants us to do, 

but we must put ourselves completely into each moment that he offers us.

I went out, Lord. 

People were coming and going, 

walking and running.
Everything was rushing: 

Cars, trucks, the street, the whole town. 

People were rushing not to waste time. 

They were rushing after time, 

to catch up with time. 

To gain time.
Good-bye, Sir, excuse me, I haven’t time. 

I’ll come back. 

I can’t wait. 

I haven’t time. 

I must end this letter–I haven’t time. 

I’d love to help you, but I haven’t time. 

I can’t accept, having no time. 

I can’t think, 

I can’t read, 

I'm swamped, 

I haven’t time. 

I’d like to pray, but I haven’t time.
You understand, Lord, 

they simply haven’t the time. 

The child is playing, 

he hasn’t time right now…

Later on… 

The schoolboy has his homework to do, 

he hasn’t time…

Later on… 

The student has his courses, 

and so much work…

Later on… 

The young married man has his new house; 

he has to fix it up…

he hasn’t time…

Later on… 

The grandparents have their grandchildren. 

They haven’t time…

Later on… 

They are ill, they have their treatments, 

they haven’t time…

Later on… 

They are dying, they have no… 

Too late!…

They have no more time!

And so all people run after time, Lord. 

They pass through life running– 

hurried, jostled, overburdened, frantic, 

and they never get there. 

They haven’t time. 

In spite of all their efforts 

they’re still short of time, 

of a great deal of time. 

Lord, you must have made a mistake in your calculations, 

there is a big mistake somewhere. 

The hours are too short. 

Our lives are too short.
You who are beyond time, Lord, 

you smile to see us fighting it. 

And you know what you are doing. 

You make no mistakes in your distribution of time to men. 

You give each one time to do what you want him to do. 

But we must not lose time, waste time, kill time, 

for it is a gift that you give us, 

but a perishable gift, 

a gift that does not keep.

Lord, I have time, 

I have plenty of time, 

all the time that you give me, 

the years of my life, 

the days of my life, 

the days of my years, 

the hours of my days, 

they are all mine. 

Mine to fill, quietly, calmly, 

but to fill completely, up to the brim, 

to offer them to you, that of their insipid water you may make a rich wine 

such as you made once in Cana of Galilee. 

I am not asking you tonight, Lord, for time to do this and then that, 

but for your grace to do conscientiously, 

in the time that you give me, 

what you want me to do.