Time: An Element of Change
I am sure that we have all heard the expression, “Things mellow with time.” When couples first marry the challenges of living together, adjusting to one another’s idiosyncrasies, and learning the art of compromise become less intrusive as time passes. After twenty-five years husbands learn to grin and bear it, and after fifty years there is total peace and harmony in the household; this is truly a blessing from The Almighty. If a couple marries and refuses to accept honestly the human uniqueness of their spouse, the new family unit predictably fails.
Remember when we were teenagers? We thought our parents were old-fashioned — not hip to “what’s happening.” Then we grew old enough to have teenage children ourselves and they too say similar things about us.
As time passes our perspective changes. Our life experiences have taught us to be mindful of the challenges and dangers that youngsters face. Our old-fashioned ideas are an effort to apply the lessons that time has taught us and to share them with our children. If teenagers do not honestly acknowledge and accept responsibility for their actions, their lives can be marred by physical, mental, or emotional catastrophes.
If we are truthful to ourselves, we intuit that the passing of time brings positive changes in our lives. It is as though the passing of time squeezes out the fallacies in our thinking, forcing us to reflect and consider alternative approaches to challenging situations.
This idea is mentioned in scripture. “As sure as Time passes, man is lost (hurts or destroys himself). Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, and encourage one another to be honest and truthful, and encourage one another to patiently persevere.” (Qur’an 103).
This verse presents a clear picture for reflection. If we are honest with ourselves and others, then our lives will be successful. If we are dishonest, corrupt, and think ourselves crafty, we will have a very difficult living experience.
Time squeezes the arrogance out of nations as well as individuals. Apartheid ended over time; Hitler fell from power over time; human enslavement and the era of Jim Crow ended over time. The Hand of the Almighty clearly intervened and the innate sense of justice manifested itself in both the oppressor and the oppressed. The former acknowledged the absence of social justice and the latter accepted divine intervention without vindictiveness in their hearts.
The Desire for power, greed, and self-interest menaces our world community. The “Big Lie” threatens our democracy here at home. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as the Israeli-Hamas war have killed thousands of innocent people. These are disheartening events and it seems that there is never a solution. But history has taught us that Time, a Divine instrument, is sufficient to balance the scales of justice.
So, the message in the above verse offers guidance to God-fearing people. Always be honest and truthful and encourage others to do the same. If we do our part, the Almighty promises us success. Lies, no matter how well they may be argued and reasoned, can only survive until the truth is manifest to all.
You may enjoy other essays by the author at https://spiritual-boundaries.com/
