SO what is the worth of one minute?
Psalm 84:11 says “Better one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. Better the threshold of the house of my God than a home in the tents of the wicked”.
What it really means is that one minute or time is so precious and valuable in God’s eyes when we let God involves in our lives. And how wasted the time when we are not valuing it.
A Latin phrase speaks of this which says “tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis” meaning that time changes and we also change along with time.
In essence, the phrase is intended as an invitation for us to focus the changes in our life for something that is good and positive.
The way you think determines how you act and react. The way you act will in turn determine how others witness about you (David J. Schwartz, 2007: 170).
This statement teaches us that to gain respect from others, you need to be the first showing respect for others. So, it is important then that in every minute in our life we are showing respect for one’s self, because the same attitude will radiate out the positive aura through in our action and behavior.
Schwartz adds, in his book that “ a wise person becomes the master of his or her thought, while a foolish person becomes a slave to his or her own thought”.
It means that we have to become controller of our though process, because from there arises all kinds of reaction. If our thoughts are good and positive, then a good reaction will shine through our thought and expression.
On the other hand, if our thought is a negative one, then our reaction will be not so good and it also shines through our behavior and expression.
If we look at it through the spiritual perspective, the two choices should be differentiated spiritually as well between good or bad spirit.
I remember a phrase saying that there is a very thin layer of differences between good and bad spirit… as thin as our hairline. This shows that it is often difficult for us to determine whether this is a good or bad spirit.
In reality bad spirit can disguise to be a good spirit. Under pretense to acting nicely, safely and peacefully but it draws destruction and unclear view of future.
For example, a high school student name Ando. At the beginning Ando diligently worked on his homework in an internet café, however, got carried away by the allurement of the internet, Ando was tempted to look at weird stuff on the internet that is inappropriate for his age.
In this case, the good spirit disguises to be evil spirit. As the scripture says that Satan is roaming around like a fox looking for its prey. In a matter of one second or minute even for hours, the place of God is replaced with evil spirit if we cannot stand strong with ourselves.
Epilogue
Steps toward a growth and success to become a teach of one minute consist of three ways:
- First, determining or setting a goal for one minute.
- Second, giving praise for one minute.
- Third, using one-minute repair or fixing (Spencer Johnson & Constance Johnson, 2005:49).
This method has been integrated in many schools to teach students to be faithful for their “one minute”.
The book explains that each student should be able to be conscious of how valuable the one minute is. Each one minute raise their awareness to be able to apply their teacher’s principle which are the three ways mentioned above.
Man is a working being (homo laborans) but also equally important as a praying being (homo orans). Praying and being in solitude to be reflective of God’s presence and being in the presence of God.
In doing so, we are more attune, more aware of how we behave, whether each minute of my life become a blessing for others or vice versa. One minute should become our life motto.
In every minute we should be able to choose things that are positive and bringing growth for one’s self and others. And in every minute, have the courage to show the spirit of joy and optimism and not otherwise sad and pessimistic.
By doing so, we are in fact in the middle of becoming angel in every minute for ourselves as well for others around us. Because every minute in our lives will not return, cannot be regained.
One minute that’s just past by becomes our past, history and memories that will never change.
Do not blame your past, because the past will never change. Embedded in the heart, I want to be an angel in one minute or become?
The choice is in your hands. (The end)
