I am always amazed by the little ordinary things that God puts into my life. Madeleine L’Engle’s novel Walking on Water has been that rather ordinary thing that God has placed in my life. Although we are only six chapters into the novel I have already taken away so much and admire the way that God used Madeleine’s unique voice to speak truth into my life.
After finishing the first three chapters I was excited to dive deeper into the rest of the novel. The fourth chapter covered the topic of love and all the things that are to follow. Madeleine touched bases on the different kinds of love; the love between a child and their parent, intimate love with a partner, and the most profound kind of love, the love that the Lord bestows upon us. English is one of the only languages that only have one word for love. (https://www.fluentin3months.com/words-for-love/) This could be the reason that the word is thrown around so loosely and true love is on a decline in our present-day culture. We are not truly capable of loving until we surrender our hearts to the love of Jesus Christ. The love that He provides never runs out, fades, or wavers. L’Engle emphasizes Jesus’ love by saying “Jesus’ love never faltered, for it was not dependent on the merit and virtue and the qualifications of those he loved” (61). The best way to return the love to God is to listen to Him with an open heart and total faith that He knows what’s best for each one of us.
Chapter 5 expands on the concept, value, and variable of time. We spend most of our lives compartmentalizing the time we are given during the day. From sleeping to eating to getting ready we strategically schedule and manage our time in a way that relieves stress. With everything running on time frame or schedule we are dependent on a uniform understanding of time. We can all agree what time it is on a clock and that over a gap of time we age and grow. When time is taken out of the equation and age is put into the spotlight we are once again divided. The age that defines up often separates us into categories or groups. But in God’s kingdom, we are not meant to be separated, because with separate comes missed opportunities. By sectioning off yourself from others who are older or younger we are depleting ourselves from gaining the knowledge or guidance that God has to offer.
Chapter 6 discusses the two different forms of time, “Chronos: our wristwatch and alarm-clock time. Kairos: God’s time, real-time” (83). We are torn between the two times because we live in Chronos and are restricted to a watch to tell the time and set our schedules. But we should be living in kairos because it is the time that God has planned for us and it is the perfect timing. God makes no mistakes, therefore by following His time we can eliminate the guessing and live as God intended. Too often we stray away from the path that God has in place due to frustration or curiosity. By living on God’s time everything will work out in due time. Even when we choose to live on God’s time it is crucial to keep in mind that “time is to be treasured, worked with, never ignored” (87). Every minute we are given a choice to use it as we please, we can either use it for good or waste it away. That is completely up to you.
The piece below “Falling Clock” by Daniel Arsham is a visual representation of the exact instance where Chronos and Kairos collide. Although this was not the artist’s intended purpose, it is a visual aid that helps me to better understand the difference between the two times. The black clock is Chronos, the strict real-world time frame and the white sheet is Kairos, God’s time frame. In this image God (the white sheet) is cradling the clock and slowing it down. A majority of the time we let time and schedules dictate our lives when in reality we need to slow down and lean into the timing that God has placed before us.
The past three chapters covered a multitude of insightful topics that got me thinking about my own life. A quote that really resonated with me is found on page 69, “‘With man it is impossible; but with God all things are possible.’” This was a quote that I desperately need to hear this week. With all the chaos of the wildfires and the uncertainty of COVID, it is refreshing to know that God has got all of this. No matter how difficult things get when you place all faith in God, everything will be okay. With so many obstacles popping up it is truly priceless to have a God that is constant and always by your side.
L’Engle, M. (2016). Walking on water: Reflections on faith and art. New York: Convergent Books.
Falling clock: Daniel ARSHAM (2011). (1970, January 01). Retrieved September 24, 2020, from https://www.perrotin.com/artists/Daniel_Arsham/17/falling-clock/22339