Tick Tock

Time.

Time out. Time flies. Time stands still.

Time to get up. Time to go to bed.

In the nick of time. Time heals all wounds.

Time after time. Time and again.

Time on your hands. Times they are a-changing.

We've all been given a certain allotment of this precious stuff. Some get more than others. No one knows how much time he's been given, whether it will be a lot or just a little.

Some use their time better than others. Some, like me, fritter away their time by sitting on the couch, making an irreparable indention with their butt, while vacantly absorbing inane drivel from the boob tube. Others, make the world a better place because of their wise use of time.

When the last grain of sand reaches the bottom of our personal hourglass, we'll be taken back to our God, who gave us life. It doesn't matter if you're famous, poor, handsome, or sad. Eventually, your time on this earth will end.

The life you build by your use of time, whether wise or otherwise, will be your yardstick in the life to come. What did you do with the gift God gave you?

I'm sure the officer who was killed yesterday at Virginia Tech thought he had a lot more time. Years, in fact. I mean, he was only 39. I'd wager that when he got up yesterday morning at his home in Christiansburg it never even entered his head that that very morning his hourglass would run dry.

You know what? It hardly ever does.

It comes like a thief in the night. You hardly ever suspect it.

This good and brave man left behind a wife and five children. Awful. Insidious. Horrible. Appalling. Shocking. Pick whatever adjective you like. I don't think you can overstate the tragedy of this situation.

I wonder if he left the house with a kiss for his wife and a heartfelt "I love you." I wonder if he squeezed each of his kids and let them feel how deeply in his heart they resided. I wonder today if they know how much daddy loved them.

It wouldn't surprise me if he did all of that and more.

But did you?

Time is running out.