‘ll explain the title right away, but first let me give some context. LatelyI have been pondering what it means to be rested, still, keeping Sabbath as some would say making sure your cup is full. BylatelyI mean intentionally the last few days, but really I can now see God leading me to this place of refection and study over the last few months. Some quick thoughts I am pondering and I pray they will start you to ponder as well.

Often when we, (people in general) start to ponder rest is because we feel tired and, well, unrested. We are quick to blame circumstance, work, family, etc. We tend to say, or for sure think, if only this circumstance, my job, a relationship, would change I would feel so much better. Mark Buchanan in his book “The Rest of God” says, ‘We refuse to budgeuntilsomeone or something (God) moves a mountain for us.” Romans 12:2 says clearly that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds…” I love God’s gentle reminders. Transformation doesn’t come first, we must renew and change our minds, our outlook. I love how Marksaysthat once we renew our minds, “…everything is different, even if it stays the same.” There is so much running around in my head, but I thought I would provide 2 perspectives on how we view time and share with you a stark visual that should help keep our perspectives in focus.

Firstly,withoutexplaining deeply Istronglybelieve that there is something sacred, even mystical in Sabbath. After all God blessed it and called it holy, so we know there is deep, profound, life giving mystery in the Sabbath. The Greeks actually understood that there was a mystical aspect to some periods of “time.” They would not have been able to verbalize this as Sabbath, but interestingly enough they created to words to describe time. Welcome “Chronos” and “Kairos”

A. Chronos, which sounds familiar because it is the root of “chronicle, chronology, etc” Chronos was actually one of the gods in the Greek pantheon. He was a task master, which makes sense because the common view point of time is that it always marches on, time does not wait for anyone, it is ruthless, it consumes life as it were. So, fittingly Chronos was described and depicted as a cannibal a deity who would consume his own children. The famous artist Goya even created a famous work called Chronos devouring his children. Chronos as one would expect is wild eyed, teetering on the edge, seemingly enraged, desperate and plain old crazy.Buchanan calls Chronos the, “deity of the driven.” This hits home for me personally as often “Chronos” this negative concept of time becomes my focus. Thismanifests in me by being to driven, or having a negative concept of work as if “work” itself was bad when we are commanded to work the earth, its just my lack of true Sabbath that warps my viewpoint. To see Goyas representation of Chronos ‘Devouring his children” you can click here.(***Warning***this is a graphic piece of art on the ugliness of Chronos, but then again, so is living life out of God’s intentions for us.)

B. Kairos is a different story. The Greeks considered this form of time as a gift. It’s time full of promise, opportunity,vitalityand purpose. It’s a sacred time. Buchananexplains it like this. “In “kairos” time you ask not what time is it, but what is this time for? Kairos time is the servant of holy purpose.” Ecclesiastes echoes this by assuring us that there is a “time” for everything a season for every activity under heaven (Eccl. 3:1-8)

When we begin to focus on the gift of kairos time we start to shift our focus. We start to see things differently. We start to choose to spend time with our Creator, and through that He begins to transform us, first by the renewing of our mind. If you are feeling stressed out, dizzy by all the demands and busyness of life, perhaps it is time to stop feeding the taskmaster Chronos and start being fed by your Lord, your Abba Father, the one who has your good intentions at heart. Don’t wait for circumstance to change, choose to engage in some kairos time with your heavenly Father, and He will transform you and give you life….