Daily Dose 30: Time Cycles

Here is where to begin reading Daily Dose 21-30 in order.

Time Cycles Linked to Creation

The Lord built a variety of time cycles into life, many of which are linked to the physical creation. From one day to the next is marked by the sun. One full moon to the next approximates a month. The season cycle, the crop cycle, the aging cycle, the childbearing cycle, and the recurring physical need to eat and sleep, are examples of time cycles directly linked to the way the physical world and people were created.

Time Cycles Linked to Important Events

The Lord also prescribed other cycles tied to important life events. The Sabbath, the Jewish feast days and the Lord’s Supper are examples of these other types of time cycles. Such events cycle back again, not because of naturally occurring events, but because the Lord wanted us to dedicate specific times to reflect on Him and take ongoing opportunities to respond anew to Him with worship, contemplation, repentance, and resolve.

We need both types of cycles, natural and defined, to help us “keep track” of what to do, when to do it, and for how long. Think of time cycles as flagpoles rising above time’s relentless flow, each waving their flag to rally us to concentrate on particular responsibilities or opportunities, or to evaluate events now bobbing away as memories in the past.

How Time Cycles Help Us Order Our Lives

Can you imagine life without such flagpoles rallying us to renewal and reflection? What benefits do we receive from the Lord giving us such flagpoles? Each cycle’s length before starting over varies greatly from cycle to cycle, but the benefits we receive from using each wisely are the same: a break from ongoing time that provides time to regroup and reorient, time to start over  and reflect, time to make changes or to intentionally keep things the same. Since most of our time work will be built on time cycles, spending some time thinking about them will prove valuable in the long run. How do time cycles affect what you do?