Time

Looking back, way, way back, in time . . . way, way back. . . we find words written that unfold a very long history; it that began in the Middle East, in Mesopotamia, Babylonia, India, Egypt. Hebrew scribes and prophets preserved their long story in a volume that we call the Bible. Therein we read about the travels of a man named Abraham, who left the land of his birth and found a better place to live.  The history of the world has trudged through Time. . . across the earth, eastward to China, India and beyond; westward to Egypt, Ethiopia, Canaan, Israel, Greece, Rome, Europe, Britain, America and back around again, west so far that it became east again.

In 1968, Judy Collins wrote and recorded a song that posed the question that no man nor women can truly answer: "Who knows where the Time goes?" The Bible book of Ecclesiastes declares: "There is an appointed Time for everything, and there is a Time for every event under heaven." What does that imply about destiny, or fate, or predestination? I don't know. So continuing my quest, I recall that In 1972 or thereabouts, Jackson Browne sang a song that included these words: "The future hides and the past just slides, and England lies between, floating in a silver mist, so cold and so clean." Songwriter Browne followed up that lyric with a bold leap across time and space, across an ocean and a continent: . . . and California's crying, like an angry child will, who has asked for love, and is unanswered still." All along the way, perhaps there is some wise man who is keeping an eye on the Time, as we pass through it. . .  whatever and whenever it is.

But I digress. . . Meanwhile, back at the ranch, in '72 I think it was, in California. . . a folk-rock group there, the Byrds, released their first big hit song, Turn Turn Turn, which borrowed words from that ancient source, the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible: "There is a time for every event under heaven. . ." a time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones together. . . a time to love, a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace" And then the Byrds added, referring to our war in Vietnam, " " a time for peace; I swear it's not too late!" Eventually that message got through to our people running the show in Washington. So we pulled out of Vietnam. But, looking back on all of it, in my life, I think Jim Croce's musing on Time was the most profound. In that fateful year 1972, Jim Croce wrote and sang these thoughts about time, and love, into his song, "Time in a Bottle": If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I'd like to do, is save every day 'til eternity passes away, just to spend them with you." . . . because Love is, after all is said and done, and even before it's all said and done, the most important - the most potent -  entity in this mystery that we call Life, as it unfurls through the pages of Time. Love is the real deal; it's the best; it makes all difference in the world. The Beatles really nailed it, back in the day, when they sang: "Love is all you need" Bottom line: LOVE is the greatest, the most important, the most potent element you will find in this Life. . . far more relevant, far more precious than Time. So, while we still can, make the best of your TIME on this earth and LOVE your family, your friends, your neighbors, your. . . everyone you meet or encounter in this LIFE, which only goes so far in Time. The End.  Glass half-Full