Tuesday, June 1, 2010

The Broken Watch

My watch died about the same time I was diagnosed with cancer last year. Ordinarily I am one of those people who live by a calendar and a schedule. A broken watch should have thrown my world into chaos, but it seems that had already been accomplished by the three little words, "You have cancer." Due to all the turmoil that ensued, I never replaced my watch. I have lived without one for over a year now, and the funny thing is I kind of like it! 


I find that I am less stressed. I move more slowly. I don't rush to accomplish things. I take time to enjoy people and conversations and nature and quiet. I was thinking about this strange new way of life for me today and wondered if maybe this is in some small way how Jesus lived his life on this earth. I don't imagine he was ever stressed - He knew that everything was ultimately in God's loving hands. I don't think he rushed from town to town - He took his time, stopping to talk to people, to hug children, to heal the sick, to teach the crowds. I don't think he was worried about accomplishing anything except what God gave him to do that day - no one to please, no one to impress - his whole goal to fulfill God's plan for the day. 


I've been thinking about buying a new watch, but the more I think about it, maybe I won't. 


"So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for people under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun." Ecclesiastes 8:15

3 comments:

  1. Interesting. My watch broke just after I got here. Never replaced it. Definitely improved my quality of life.

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  2. I've never worn a watch except for one time when I just had to have this one particular watch...more for show than anything...it was a really pretty and oh so fashionable piggy watch...and the hands had little piggies on the end... loved that watch. But sometimes it just drives me crazy to not have one, especially in a boring class or meeting and I dont' want to dig in my purse for my cell phone to check the time. I think its rather significant how your watch broke as it represented time just standing still for awhile.

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