Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
By Bernadette A. Moyer

 

Almost from the very beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic I have been walking around thinking of the lyrics from an old Chicago song title that reads ”Does anyone really know what time it is?” Seems like we are forced into a new reality where just about all of our lives are on new and different schedules.

Some places are open but with limited hours and new and different schedules. There is much adjust and adapt on how we proceed even in the doing of the most ordinary things.

Sometimes it even feels like the twilight zone and not very real. Time takes on new meaning when we are living our lives so unlike anything we have known before or have been accustomed to in the past.

Chicago
As I was walking down the street one day
A man came up to me and asked me what the time was that was on my watch, yeah
And I said
Does anybody really know what time it is (I don’t)
Does anybody really care (care about time)
If so I can’t imagine why (no, no)
We’ve all got time enough to cry

Other times I tell myself, “what are you waiting for?” Just do it! Do what you can and with that I completely outfitted my home office where I truly can work from home. The tasks that have been deleted and post-phoned in an attempt to isolate and social distance have allowed me to understand what I can do versus what I can’t do.

As a doer initially this was really a very difficult adjustment to make but granted a necessary one thrust upon us all. It wasn’t just me we were all living it. Once I trained myself to think about all that I can do, much stress and pressure that I placed upon myself lifted. And immediately I started to feel better and more like my old self.

Then the other phrase swimming through my mind is/was, “time waits for no man” the most quoted from a proverb that means some things are inevitable, such as birth, death and the sun rising in the morning, the passage of time.

For most all of my life I understood that we all have a finite time here on earth and I for one choose to make the most of it and live life to the fullest regardless of the situation I find myself in and any curveballs thrown my way.

I never wanted to live a life filled with regrets. I would rather say it and do it and maybe it doesn’t turn out like I hoped and thought it would, but it was always easier for me to live like I was trying!

This period of time has made me more quiet and introspective and more prayerful and deliberate. There is no “auto pilot” in this pandemic. We have to think ahead and plan accordingly. Much is limited and changed and different.

On a deeper and spiritual sense I have come to the conclusion that we all needed to stop! and take a break and a pause and deep breathe. Without the diversion and chaos of concerts, sporting events and gatherings we were forced to reimagine our lives. What was important to us? What could we do without? What could we be making more room for? Are we living our true and best life?

It was time for a deep dive into self-reflection. With the lack of an ability to socialize and so few people that I was personally (in person) interacting with I became acutely aware of how we are treating others. Who and what might we have taken for granted? And when I said, “it is really good to see you” I meant it, wholeheartedly!

But I was also appalled by the riots, violence and deep disregard for human life that our news brought to us. The political anger/divide/disrespect was even more difficult to witness during this pandemic. It seems like winning by all and any means was all that mattered. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum and both with deep passion. They just know that they are right and the other side is wrong. People that I love and respect making fun of another human being because THAT person doesn’t believe and think like they do. It makes me so sad.

Oprah said it a long time ago, “Do I need to be right or do I need peace?” I need peace and this pandemic with its new time makes it even more important.

The last big thing I think about is ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8, what is THIS time for? Here is hoping and praying that you are making the most of this significant period of time in our shared living at this very special time.

God’s peace and prayers …

Bernadette on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/bernadetteamoyer