As we look forward to what the year brings, perhaps we need to reflect on one of the core elements of human life – time.
“Time is precious.”
“My time is valuable.”
“Time is money.”
“Do you have any free time?”
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We have commodified time. We spend time, save time, make time, waste time, kill time.
Time is like the air we breathe, so we also take it for granted.
But time, in essence, is the gift of being present. It is the rhythm of life, and it takes time to see the unseen complexities of life.
Robert J Wicks the author of Availability: The Challenge and the Gift of Being Present, writes:
Some of us are too available. Thus, true availability becomes watered down. We become too busy to pray, too tired to reflect, and ironically too stimulated interpersonally to really be present to others.
Many feel an urgent need to respond immediately to a given situation. This may deprive human beings of the time to reflect on actions and the consequences of particular actions to the wellbeing of society.
The ethno-religious bigotry in Malaysia is an example of how a segment of the elite have failed to take time to reflect on the consequences of their actions to the unity of the nation, especially among the younger generation.
On the global scene, parts of the world are plagued with wars, genocide and wanton destruction.
Michael Nagler, whose scholarly work focuses on war and peace, speaks about the “mysterious connection between speed, fragmentation and violence. He argues that “what causes, or allows, a human being to do inhuman actions” is a sense of crisis with no other option than the need to do something now.
The remedy is to discipline the mind to choose responsiveness over violence.
An undisciplined mind that has no time for reflection leads to war and destruction.
This could also apply to the global financial system which often pursues hot money with little time to reflect on the consequences to the real economy and the impact on people’s lives.
In the Malaysian context, time and patience for engagement and dialogue among communities of all ethnicities is critical for a peaceful, progressive nation.
So let’s take some time to reflect on the blessings we have in a relatively peaceful nation in comparison with war-torn countries.
Let us be truly present to one another irrespective of ethnic identity so that we can understand others better.
Time is a gift from God. Let’s not view it from a reductionist perspective of efficiency and money.
Time is about being fully present.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
