So wrote Wm. H. Davies in the first half of the twentieth century. I have heard it claimed that we have more leisure time available to us now than at any time in our history. If that is really true then it’s a strange paradox that we still tend to live at such a frenetic pace. It seems that even leisure has to be worked at in order to extract the maximum possible benefit, especially when there is a financial cost attached. The thing is, does it matter?
An ethics professor at Princeton Seminary asked for volunteers for an extra assignment. Fifteen of his students thought the extracurricular activity was worth a try and showed up. He divided the group of fifteen into three groups of five each. He instructed the first group of five to proceed immediately across the campus to a certain spot; if they didn't get there in fifteen minutes their grade would be affected. A minute or two later he instructed the second group to proceed across the campus to the same spot; but they were given forty-five minutes to get there. After they left he instructed the last group to go across the campus to that spot too; but they were given three hours for the trip.
Now, unknown to any of these students, the teacher had arranged with three students from the Drama Department to meet them along the way, acting as people in great need: the first one they met covered his head with his hands and moaned out loud as though in great pain; the second, a little bit further along the way, was on some steps lying face down as if unconscious; the third, on the very steps of the specified destination, acted out an epileptic seizure.
The purpose behind all of this was for the ethics professor to observe how much time pressures affect our behaviour. Would it surprise you to know that he found that not one of the first group stopped to help or even ask if they could seek help for any of the people they encountered. Two of the second group stopped, and all five of the third group stopped.
The professor concluded that when we are too busy, with tight schedules and impossible deadlines, there is no time or space in our lives to concern ourselves about others. Is that an over simplification or do you detect a hint of truth?
One of the most well known stories about Jesus was the time when he was speaking to a crowd of important people and some parents turned up with their young children, asking Jesus to give them his blessing. The other adults tried to shoo them away because they felt Jesus was too busy dealing with the big issues to have time for children. Jesus’ famous reply was; “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14 NIV)
It’s been said that the most significant gift we can give someone is our time. Not only time for our children but time for one another. Holiday are coming to an end, routine is kicking back in. As Davies said at the end of his poem; ‘A poor life this if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.’
