麻豆约拍

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Jonathan Rea

SCRIPT

Good morning.

48 years ago today, President Richard Nixon visited Nashville to open the brand new Grand Ole Opry House, the home of country music. And in the fun of the moment, he took part in the opening show, playing with a yo-yo on stage and performing on the piano.

Some years ago, I was involved in a concert in that same iconic venue. And my attention was drawn to a large digital clock in the wings, visible to everybody on stage, but not to the audience. I commented in jest that someone in here must be pretty strict about the timekeeping. 鈥淭hey are indeed,鈥� came the reply - 鈥渋f your show goes past 10pm by 1 second, your organisation is instantly fined many thousands of dollars. Every participant must be off stage before the deadline.

Apparently, there are no seconds of grace in this policy.

As I start this new day, I am all too aware that I can be carefree in my approach to punctuality. I am prone to procrastination and distraction. And I dread to think of the financial consequences if I were fined for every wasted second.

But as the wise king Solomon said, there is a time to work and to rest. To laugh and to weep. To speak and to be silent.

For each new day is a gracious renewal of our permission to live and breathe, gifted to us by an eternal God who exists outside the paradigm of time. Alpha and Omega. Beginning and end. Infinite in power but brimming with grace.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away.
They fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come
Be thou our guide while troubles last
And our eternal home. Amen

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