If you live in the PAST, you are depressed
If you live in the FUTURE, you are anxious
If you live in the PRESENT, you are at peace
Lao Tau
The Urantia Book teaches us to think differently, revealing truths and elaborating concepts that, in my experience, had never before germinated in my mind.
So, when I realized that time and space had not always existed, and that God had created them, starting in Paradise, I was struck by this discovery, which led me to think hard about this fascinating subject: TIME
It’s very reassuring for me to know that my time here on Urantia is only temporary and short, very short. Whatever challenges I face, my time here is but the blink of an eye, compared to the eternal life that awaits me.
In the paper on seraphim administrators, a Melchizedek acting by request of the Chief of the Seraphic Hosts of Nebadon, reveals the following:
To the inhabited worlds, the quickeners of morality portray mortal life as an unbroken chain of many links. Your short sojourn on Urantia, on this sphere of mortal infancy, is only a single link, the very first in the long chain that is to stretch across universes and through the eternal ages. 39:4.13 (435.6)
Isn’t that a wonderful message of hope?
Time is relative and is experienced differently depending on the situations and emotions in which we find ourselves.
When we are unhappy, time goes by SLOWLY.
When we are happy, time goes by FAST.
When we are with God, time is ETERNAL.
How long before you will regard time as the moving image of eternity and space as the fleeting shadow of Paradise realities? 189:1.3 (2021.2)
The older I get, the more aware I become of the richness of the time available to me. At 70, I have less time left to live than I have ever had, so I am taking advantage of it to help my soul evolve by doing the best I can in actions of Love. What is most important, most meaningful to me, while maintaining my vision of my long-term goal, is to live in the present moment.
Everyone knows this, but it is not always easy to do. You have to develop a taste for it and practice it constantly, being aware that this precious gift—the present moment of time—will never come back. Here is a beautiful excerpt by an unknown author that makes us reflect on time:
YESTERDAY – TODAY – TOMORROW
“There are two days in the week for which we should not worry, two days that should be free of fear and apprehension.
One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and worries, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.
Yesterday is gone forever, beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single action we have taken; we cannot erase a single word we have said. Yesterday is gone.” On that subject, let me add the following:
The human tongue,” said Jesus, “is a member which few men can tame, but the spirit within can transform this unruly member into a kindly voice of tolerance and an inspiring minister of mercy. 146:2.13 (1640.2)
“The other day we do not have to worry about is Tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its greater promises. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.
Tomorrow, the sun will rise, either in its splendor or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise. Until it does, we have nothing to do with tomorrow, for it is not yet born.” We all remember this quote from the morontia mota’s teachings, that confirm this statement:
Anxiety must be abandoned. The disappointments hardest to bear are those which never come. 48:7.21 (557.5)
“There’s only one day left: Today
All can fight the battles of a single day. Only when you and I add the burden of these two terrible realities – yesterday and tomorrow- do we collapse.
It’s not the experience of Today that drives men mad, it’s remorse or bitterness for something that happened Yesterday and fear of what Tomorrow may bring.
So let’s live ONE day at a time.”
Let’s start TODAY by loving ourselves, by doing good, by growing our souls, and being grateful for this Divine gift: TIME
Feel free to contact the author, Francis Fortin