Time

As I’ve grown older the issue of time has begun to play an ever-increasing role in my life. It isn’t hard to remember, not that long ago, those four years of high school seemed like an eternity. An even greater example was my last six months of active duty in the Navy. Wife and daughter at home and me thousand of miles away.

Now time seems like it is going at a quickened pace. Year changes can only be noticed when you put the wrong year on your checks each January. Even better when you hear a teen say that teacher is so old. He must be at least fifty. For me fifty is a fast approaching class reunion.

Then this morning I realized another issue of time. How I allow it to control me. Being a small nonprofit PDA’s are still out of budget range, but I clutch my Day-timer like a television preacher holds his Bible. I make notes on appointments, reports due, calls to make and other calls to return and a to-do list which superman himself would be hard-pressed to complete in the assigned time.

At the end of the day I start reviewing what I didn’t get done. Transferring missed items to the next day, only adding to tomorrow’s suffering. Then it begins to set in. Depression and that feeling of having failed not only myself, but all those people I was supposed to call or e-mail or the ultimate, a report which will be a day late.

A process begins. Negative feelings about myself build. Guilt, wow, there is a good one. An abundance of guilt washes over everything. The depression deepens and a low-grade anger begins. The finger-pointing, internal dialogue runs rampant and lame excuses start arriving. No, I say to myself I don’t get paid for this abuse. I can’t do it all. I need some help.

Looking around, in our case for a volunteer. Someone to take this intense pressure away. Then the realization hits. Everyone I know is in the same position. Managed by time, owned by the clock and a slave to the to-do list.

This morning something unusual happened. I was setting in my library writing in my journal when the realization struck me. Not only is my daily schedule of time limited so is the time I have left on earth to experience all the beauty and wonder life offers.

The obvious next question is why am I living this way. Running as fast as I can towards and end that is certain even though the when of the event is not. I think we all dream, maybe even expect there will come a day, somewhere in the future, when we can quit our slave-master relationship with time. A place where we are the master and not the slave to this insidious dilemma.

My best guess is never unless we do something about it. Mater of fact, in most of our lives it will be never end. Particularly if we as individual components of what we call society don’t begin to shift our values and priorities away from what others think of us. This includes who has the best car and biggest house, to living in peace with a comfortable spot inside ourselves without the constant time driven chatter. The old book comes to mind, “Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda”.

Take some time to think about time and family, children, friends and lovers. The only certainty in life is that time as we know it will end at a time uncertain. “Wooda-Coulda-Shoulda” makes a very sad epitaph.

I guess this is the time to take some time for me. My kitty just jumped onto my lap and seems intent on taking a little snooze. With my to-do list left uncompleted I think he has the answer. I’m going to lean back and take a little nap-time myself.

Volunteer for Abused Children

We frequently speak to groups about the work the Foundation does with child abuse victims and their families. It rarely fails that late in the talk or immediately after someone asks if they can volunteer to help the children. Our first reaction is “great we always need volunteers”.

Next is the dose of reality for both them and us. The first is what would you like to do? This is met with a look in the prospective volunteers eye of – “just hold them and make it better”. We wish it were that easy. The cost is small and volunteers would abound.

As a small rural charity let me mention what a charity that cares for families and children of abuse need. Actually, let’s not get carried away. What do we need?

First and foremost is cash. Gas is nearly three dollars a gallon and rural travel uses a lot of it. Then the electric company, trash pick-up, water, constant building maintenance and repairs and a long list of supplies. All take cash, goodwill and noble purpose doesn’t do anything for the phone company. Did I mention gas and phone cards for indigent victims and often food and clothing? Taking children to appointments and interviews and more gas.

Who can cut the grass and weed the gardens every week. Oh, I forgot to mention nearly daily cleaning, stocking the refrigerator for the victims and the family members when they come for services.

High on the list are family and child advocates and someone to answer the phone. I may have forgot to mention we are a 100% volunteer organization so every area needs volunteers.

Since the children are kept under a cover of confidentiality mandated by both state and federal laws you’ll have to have an extensive background check which can take several months.

Having said all this I can tell you there is little if anything that will make you feel better when you get home to your children and family than having made a difference in the life of someone in need. For me it makes every year worth the effort.

If this seems like something you might like to do find the nearest Children’s Advocacy Center or CASA program and sign up. You’ll never regret it.