Spiritual Address by Lizzie Wildwood.
Time is one of the most precious gifts we have, yet it is something we often take for granted. During our Divine Service on Sunday evening, I found myself reflecting on the meaning of time, the opportunities it presents, and how we might use it to bring greater happiness, kindness and healing into our lives.
With the clocks going back this weekend, we were all given an extra hour. But rather than simply enjoying an additional hour in bed, I began wondering what we could do if we treated that hour as a genuine gift.
An Extra Hour: A Gift to Ourselves
The previous evening, I had been celebrating a friend’s son’s 18th birthday. It was a wonderful occasion and a rather late night. As we approached 2 am, somebody reminded us that the clocks were about to go back.
We decided to wait and watch what happened to our phones. Eventually, 2 am became 1 am, and just like that, we had been given an extra hour.
Of course, the following day was cold, wet and windy, and I managed to spend around 20 minutes sitting in traffic. Nevertheless, the experience got me thinking.
There are normally 168 hours in a week, but this particular week has 169. What if we decided to make something special of that additional hour?
Rather than simply allowing it to disappear into our usual routines, what if we consciously chose an hour during the week and said, “This is my extra hour, and I am going to use it for something meaningful”?
That hour belongs to you. You have the freedom to decide exactly how to spend it.
Perhaps you might choose to put your feet up, relax and show yourself a little kindness. We spend so much of our lives looking after other people, fulfilling responsibilities and worrying about what needs to be done next. Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is give ourselves permission to rest.
Alternatively, you might use that hour to reconnect with somebody. Perhaps there is a friend, neighbour or relative you have not spoken to for a while. A simple telephone call or message could help rebuild a connection that has faded over time.
You might choose to go for a walk in nature, take up a new hobby, try something different or simply enjoy doing something for fun.
After all, it is a spare hour. Why not enjoy it?
Learning to Let Go When Time Moves Forward
Thinking about gaining an hour also made me consider what happens in the spring, when the clocks move forward and we lose an hour.
Nobody particularly enjoys losing an hour, but perhaps we could look at it differently.
Instead of thinking about what we have lost, what if we asked ourselves what we could choose not to do?
What responsibilities could we put aside? What worries could we stop carrying? What could we release from our lives that no longer serves us?
Sometimes, we burden ourselves with expectations, obligations and concerns that weigh heavily on our shoulders.
Perhaps losing an hour could become a reminder that we do not have to hold on to everything.
We can choose where to direct our energy, and sometimes the most positive decision is to stop giving our time to something that brings us unnecessary worry or unhappiness.
Time, Healing and Finding Inner Peace
There is an old saying that time is a great healer.
We have probably all heard those words, particularly when experiencing sadness, disappointment, grief or conflict.
And there is certainly truth in them. With the passing of time, our feelings can change, painful memories may become easier to manage, and situations that once seemed overwhelming can begin to feel less significant.
But healing is not always simply a matter of waiting.
Sometimes, we need to make a conscious decision to find peace within ourselves.
Perhaps somebody has wronged you in the past. Perhaps there has been an argument, a misunderstanding or a relationship that has broken down. Equally, perhaps you have said or done something that you regret.
We cannot control how other people behave, what they say or the decisions they make. What we can work on is our own response and how we choose to move forward.
Imagine taking the sadness, frustration or resentment you have been carrying and allowing it to drift away, like leaves floating along a river and disappearing over a waterfall.
You do not have to continue carrying every burden from your past.
Perhaps that extra hour this week could be an opportunity to begin finding some inner peace, to forgive, to reconnect or simply to allow yourself to move forward.
Healing takes many forms, and sometimes it begins with giving ourselves permission to let go.
Our Perception of Time
Another interesting thing about time is how differently we experience it.
An hour can feel like an eternity when we are waiting for something. Yet when we are enjoying ourselves, surrounded by people we love or doing something exciting, that same hour can disappear in what feels like a moment.
The clock has not changed. Only our experience of time has changed.
This reminds us that our attitude towards time can be just as important as the amount of time we have available.
We are all here on this Earth for a limited period. For some, that may be many years, while for others it may be considerably shorter. None of us knows exactly how much time we have.
Rather than allowing that thought to make us fearful, perhaps we can use it as encouragement to appreciate the present.
Every minute, every hour and every day offers us opportunities to experience life, share kindness, learn something new and make a positive difference.
Time Waits for No One
During the service, somebody watching online reminded us of another familiar saying: “Time waits for no one.”
And that is absolutely right.
Time continues moving forward. We cannot turn back the clock or return to yesterday, however much we might sometimes wish to.
But we can influence what happens next through the decisions we make today.
How often do we find ourselves thinking about something we would like to do, only to put it off until another day?
Perhaps there is somebody we have been meaning to contact, somewhere we have always wanted to visit or something new we have wanted to try.
We tell ourselves that we will get around to it eventually.
But why not now?
Why not use that extra hour to take the first step?
If there is somebody you love but have not spoken to recently, reach out to them. If there is a disagreement that needs resolving, consider whether now might be the time to make peace.
If there is something you have been dreaming of doing, perhaps this is the week to begin.
We cannot control the passage of time, but we can make choices about how we spend the time available to us.
Making Time for Love, Kindness and Spiritual Connection
At the beginning of our service, we came together in prayer, sending thoughts of love and healing to those who needed them.
On such a cold, wet and windy evening, we remembered those without shelter, those working outside in difficult conditions and people experiencing hardship throughout the world.
We also sent our love to those in the Spirit World: our parents, children, brothers, sisters, partners, friends and everyone whose physical presence we miss.
Within our Spiritualist understanding, we believe that life continues beyond physical death and that the bonds of love remain.
This belief can bring comfort when reflecting on the passing of time and the temporary nature of our earthly lives.
Although our time together on Earth is limited, the love we share and the connections we make have a significance that extends beyond the hours and days recorded on a clock.
Perhaps this is another reason to make the most of the present, to express our love while we can, to show compassion to others and to appreciate the people who share our lives.
What Will You Do With Your Extra Hour?
As we move into the darker evenings of autumn and winter, I would encourage you to think about how you might spend your extra hour this week.
It does not have to involve anything extraordinary. Sometimes, the smallest actions can make the greatest difference.
An hour spent resting, a conversation with an old friend, a peaceful walk, an act of kindness or a decision to release an old worry could all be valuable ways to use this gift of time.
We cannot turn back the clock, and we cannot know what tomorrow will bring. But we can choose how we respond to the opportunities in front of us today.
Remember that your time is precious. Treat it with kindness, use it with purpose and make space for the things and people that truly matter.
And above all, enjoy your extra hour.
With love and blessings,
Lizzie Wildwood
This article was drafted using Chat GPT AI from a transcript of the medium’s spiritual address during our Divine Service. Edited by humans. Featured image by Chat GPT.
