Faith Column
Submitted by Pastor Murray Wittke
Valley Christian Assembly
Another year has passed. The carousel of time has gone around again. Only yesterday I was a child eagerly marking my new height on the wall; I was a teenager sporting a deep voice and sprouting whiskers; I was a young man in love, married and welcoming children into our home. Only yesterday they graduated and moved away. Now I’m a grandfather singing songs and reading stories to my grandchildren. Now I play on the floor with crayons, building blocks, race cars and dinosaurs. Time keeps on slipping into the future.
I’m aging. We all are. Everyone and everything around me is growing older. The signs are everywhere. Recently my glasses were strengthened, several years ago my knee was rebuilt, and before that I was treated for prostate cancer. I’ve noticed conversations often concern people’s health or the passing of family members or friends. I still work, but the clock is ticking. Very soon I’ll receive Canada pension and be dipping into retirement savings. And after that the closing chapter of life begins.
A young Joni Mitchel once sang “And the seasons they go round and round, and the painted ponies go up and down, we’re captive on the carousel of time. We can’t return we can only look behind from where we came, and go round and round and round in the circle game.”
Our ride on the carousel of time eventually comes to an end. Before that happens listen to the words of a wise old man…“Honor and enjoy your Creator while you’re still young, before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, before your vision dims and the world blurs and the winter years keep you close to the fire… Remember your Creator before the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Why not begin this New Year with a conversation with our Creator? Don’t put it off. Embark on a spiritual journey and there will be much more to enjoy, as we go round and round on the carousel of time.
