Catholic Exchange

Time

Written by

George Herbert (1593-1633)

in

Meeting with Time, slack thing, said I,
Thy scythe is dull; whet it for shame.
No marvel Sir, he did reply,
If it at length deserve some blame:
      But where one man would have me grind it,
      Twenty for one too sharp do find it.

Perhaps some such of old did pass,
Who above all things lov'd this life:
To whom thy scythe a hatchet was,
Which now is but a pruning knife.
      Christ's coming hath made man thy debter,
      Since by thy cutting he grows better.

And in his blessing thou art blest:
For where thou only wert before
An executioner at best;
Thou art a gard'ner now, and more,
      An usher to convey our souls
      Beyond the utmost stars and poles.

And this is that makes life so long,
While it detains us from our God.
Ev'n pleasures here increase the wrong,
And length of days lengthen the rod.
      Who wants [lacks] the place, where God doth dwell,
      Partakes already half of hell.

Of what strange length must that needs be,
Which ev'n eternity excludes!
Thus far Time heard me patiently:
Then chafing said, This man deludes:
      What do I here before his door?
      He doth not crave less time, but more.

Comments

  1. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Oh, aye, ’tis truth . . .

    Life can be so Purgatorial, why not get on with the end of it, and fall into Christ’s arms?

    And, then, does one grandchild say
    ‘I picked this out just for you, Grandpa’ –
    – an angel embracing an old fool with but a few words –
    – and one wants to hang about to hear his great-great-grand-angel speak the same . . .

    The glory of life in, with and through Christ is in its glory wherever He wants me.

    I remain your obedient servant, but God’s first,

    Pristinus Sapienter

    (wljewell @catholicexchange.com or … yahoo.com)

  2. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    Dearest Pristinus Sapienter,
    Once, long ago and far away, a preacher asked his congregation, “Who wants to go to Heaven?”
    Every single person in the congregation raised their hands–some, both hands, and others bouncing up and down in enthusiasm.
    The preacher lowered his mic and his voice and asked, “And who wants to go to Heaven today?”
    Every single person in the congregation put their hands down……except me. Do I have a death-wish? Not at all. I have two wonderful children, and the two most beautiful grandchildren in the world (after yours, I’m sure), and a couple of apostolates that I enjoy, along with some pets who make me laugh. BUT, there’s that part of me that knows I “don’t belong” here, that knows that there’s a place called “Home” waiting for me. That part of me longs to be on my way…..

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    You, my dear, are most generous to call me ‘dearest’ – Gos bless you, in my gratitude,

    But – it is all of love, Cooky, from God –

    – Who beckons and compels us, yet loves us just who and where and what and why we are right now . . .

    I would go Home to Love this very minute, before my fingers pick out the next letter. I would stay in His love, as He is pleased with my staying. Either way, I am His – I, nothing but love, waiting on Love.

    And, you younguns’, know that as my thoughts and prayers right this very instant bring on my tears, I could not tell you surely whether they are of suffering and desire to be-done-with-it, or of the inexpressibly exquisite joy that my memories bring to me. And, that, too, is as Love would have it.

    I remain your obedient servant, but God’s first,

    Pristinus Sapienter

    (wljewell @catholicexchange.com or … yahoo.com)

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