Dates keep whizzing by, but where does the time go? It is getting increasingly harder to keep track. Am I looking through rose-colored glasses where dates are simply devices used to exact meaningless devotion to a never-ending spiral of events seasoned with broken hope?
As I flip through my appointment calendar, I notice more and more days of recognition for various events and worldly traditions. Compared with a calendar from less than a decade ago, so many more dates of seeming substance have made their way into the endless stream of supposed importance.
Five years ago, I was among those adhering to emotions reflected through the lens of earthly dates. I focused my thoughts and actions on the upcoming seasonal events that were supposed to enrich my existence and “fill my cup.” In addition, I fixated on anniversary dates: how much time I had shared with my significant other; I focused on dates I had lost loved ones, and I dedicated years of service to my appointment-based job, all in an attempt to go with the flow, as they say. What I see as I look back is a plethora of orchestrated emotional energy that was expended based on what each date represented. Joy, grief, hope, thankfulness, love, and gifting are just some examples of the obligatory emotions and responses triggered by adhering to a system that is meant to dictate our own personal mode of operation.
As Yah dug me out of this mound of forced responses, I began to recognize the significant emotional power I was giving to earthly dates. The truth burst upon me when I relinquished my personal viewpoint and Yah restored my vision. That truth suddenly seemed so pure and simple: a joyful heart is always in season! This in turn leads to giving freely, no matter the time of year, because a rejoicing heart is thankful and wants to give to others. For instance, toward the end of the reign of King David, when the building of the actual temple drew near, we are told that many Israelites rejoiced in giving freely:
9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to Yah.
—1 Chronicles 29:9
In fact, this willingness to give freely irrespective of time constraints is the hallmark of a righteous heart:
20 . . . the righteous gives and does not hold back.
—Proverbs 26:20
On the other hand, I was equally able to experience my grief on a newfound spiritual foundation. I began to realize that my emotions over those lost did not have to fluctuate based on dates; for they are absent each and every day of my existence in this world, and therefore, times of mourning and solace needn’t be carved out because of a specific earthly representation of time. This fresh knowledge led me to grasp the notion that loved ones who have passed are physically void of time, thus making it only natural to let go of a date that suggested I must behave differently or even embrace sorrow because of its earthly portrayal.
31 For Yah will not cast off forever, 32 but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.
—Lamentations 3:31 – 33
50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.
—Psalm 119:50
Yeshua assures us that the Most High alone knows the day and hour of every event that takes place in his creation. Placing all hope in Yah alone evaporates the mystical illusion earthly dates represent, for what use is worldly time to an infinite Creator?
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are El.
—Psalm 90:2
With this mindset, I was able to realize that no matter the day, I must live according to Yah’s purpose. The system of dates the world recognizes does not account for his statutes or how he apportions time in our lives. Therefore, in letting go of emotional adherence to earthly standards of time, I was able to accept a mission of substantially greater importance. I now look forward to opportunities I am awarded here in this life to represent Yah to the best of my ability.
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
—Psalm 90:12
The wisdom I have gleaned from reading the Psalms of King David is this: it is better to live each day knowing that our time is limited and fragile so we may make the best choices and present ourselves as ambassadors of our Creator. Therefore, having a wise heart is much more valuable than seeking an extension of time in our current physical form. A wise heart values that which Yah values. Yah does not seek to grant an endless earthly existence to anyone under the current system, nor does he require that we expend emotional energy toward worldly calendar events. That is to be reserved for the appointed feasts and observances he commanded in Scripture.
I hope this article, which details my personal thoughts about emotionally driven responses propelled by date representations has, at the very least, provoked a desire to pray over this topic. While we must all rely on calendar dates to maintain our present routines and schedules, we must also decide what is necessary to maintain personal order while controlling the emotions that will be stirred by certain calendar events.
It is my genuine belief that the words in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” are truly a deliverance request from this earthly bondage. Since the current authority is governed by worldly incentives, the prayer is for Yah to restore his perfection in our realm as it exists in heaven. This tragically blighted existence is built on the illusion of false security. My hope, therefore, is that Yah will soon destroy the bondage of this worldly order and restore a world that resembles his glory in every way, where the strictures of time will no longer be a factor in our lives.
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It touched on what I was going through by not celebrating the pagan holidays that this world embraces. As I was reading the article I got emotional because it really hit close to home. Thank you. Yah Bless.
—Doryce R.
Yah always has a plan. I thought your article was amazing and I appreciate your poetic way of writing. Please continue on family. It’s very helpful.
—Aaron B.
Great message of hope. Very well written . . . but it will never end till HaMashiach returns to restore his obedient servants.
—Deanna T.
