(39.) T is for Time

(39.) T is for Time

What a mystery time is. Somehow God created time out of thin air, from somewhere outside of time itself. Earthly existence is bound by time as chronos, but then again our eternal souls have unrestricted time too… kairos. In responsibly managing our time, we somehow juggle those two time systems within and around us. We can foolishly squander it, wisely redeem it, be enslaved to it, master it. Many of the early Christians believed that each present moment was a sacrament. Time is money? No, time is sacred gift.

You can tell a lot about a school’s vision by how they choose to manage time. Christ-centered schools have a distinctive perspective, because chronos and kairos are both involved. We are not infatuated with mere tangible productivity, as if constant feverish activity is time well spent. Educational versions of workaholism are actually a terrible waste of time.

Studying with an eternal view means spending time in ways that might appear inefficient, if not empty and useless. We don’t merely build portfolios, we nurture souls. So, sometimes we prefer full silence over shallow talk, free play rather than goal-oriented work. Even if we need to depend heavily on school bells, maybe we want to make sure that somehow our spirits are not ruled by the clock.

Interestingly, the root word for school is leisure, free time. From all appearances, many might think it means hurried, time pressured. Children, of all people, need time to be creative, think clearly and deeply, to interact with fellow human beings. Does your school have a timeless quality to its study and friendships and acitivities? Maybe a new time management system is needed… Efficiency experts and utilitarians need not apply.