{"id":741,"date":"2014-12-25T21:21:50","date_gmt":"2014-12-26T02:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.joshuastairhime.com\/?p=741"},"modified":"2018-12-04T22:59:10","modified_gmt":"2018-12-05T03:59:10","slug":"time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.joshuastairhime.com\/index.php\/time\/","title":{"rendered":"Out of Time (DOP #25 2014)"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Time passes like a slow trickling stream, flowing continuously as the ill effects of unjust events find their way downstream to collect in an ocean of sorrow.\u00a0 There are those who stand on the shore and do their best to alleviate the suffering they find collected there, but they are far too few to stop the inevitable rise of the waters.\u00a0 They make a difference with each action, but they are losing the fight against the sin and destruction found in the world. \u00a0All around them dams break allowing water to pour over the edge until a group of peacemakers can rally enough strength to stop the rush of destructive water.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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25 days ago I set out on this little writing adventure.\u00a0 I have not been very good at sticking to my plans in the past, so I was concerned that I would not reach the end of the journey.\u00a0 I have designed\u00a0ambitious projects in the past, but when life gets busy the extra project is usually the first thing to go.\u00a0 On December 1st<\/sup>, I knew that I would have plenty of time to write for the first few weeks, and after that I suspected I would not be much busier. \u00a0I began to get worried on December 12th<\/sup> as I looked ahead to the next 4 days and thought I could never finish everything on my schedule and still find time to write.<\/p>\n

I was scheduled to run sound at church on Saturday and Sunday, and picking a friend up from the airport in Chicago on Monday.\u00a0 My Tuesday involved more driving and a video shoot in the early afternoon.\u00a0 I made attempts to \u201cwrite ahead\u201d, but found that I really couldn\u2019t seem to manage more than one post per day.\u00a0\u00a0 By the time I made it to Tuesday, I knew that the rest of the week would be just as busy.\u00a0 By the time I made it to Friday, I saw that I would be busier than I was accustomed to right up until the end of the project.<\/p>\n

\"Time\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So as I look back at the last 26,000+ words I have pounded out of my keyboard, I find that I am surprised that I have finished the 25 days.\u00a0 It seems to have gone so fast, and there are so many other topics that I had anticipated sharing that have yet to find their way down my fingers to the keys.\u00a0 Even yesterday as I wrote the penultimate piece, the reality that this project would end the next day was difficult to accept.\u00a0 A part of me is ready to spend a day with no pressure to produce something new, but the other part of me wishes that I had more time to finish the task before me.\u00a0 It is bittersweet for me to say goodbye to a process that has taught me a lot about myself, and lead to some excellent conversation over the last 4 weeks.<\/p>\n

The seemingly sudden ending has brought to mind an important lesson I hope to remember as I go forward into 2015.<\/p>\n

When we hear of a terrible incident in the news, it may be heavily covered for the first few days, only the most terrible stories will last an entire week in heavy news rotation.\u00a0 After the initial buzz of the story has worn off, the world finds another story that draws our attention and begins to cover and discuss that story as if the previous events never happened.\u00a0 The news media will occasionally come back to briefly cover the first story, but you have to listen closely as a story that formerly warranted significant discussion, becomes a transition piece from one lead story to another.<\/p>\n

We are approaching the 5 year anniversary of the Haitian Earthquake that left 1.5 million displaced.\u00a0 The story will hit the news again on January 12th<\/sup>, but you will hear very little about it for the rest of the year.\u00a0 The current estimate is that there are still more than 100,000 people who do not have adequate housing to replace what was lost.<\/p>\n

It has been more than nine months since Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 Nigerian school girls, to date, no one knows where most of them are, and the world has not made any significant headway in the fight against Boko Haram.\u00a0 In the meantime, Boko Haram has continued attacking civilians, including an attack 11 days ago that has left over 100 people unaccounted for.<\/p>\n

It has been nearly 4 years since the current Syrian Civil war started.\u00a0 It still occasionally finds its way to the news, but only during a discussion of ISIS, who are weakening both the regime, and the moderate opposition.<\/p>\n

We could continue discussing forgotten news all night, but that would not get us any closer to the point I hope to drive home.\u00a0 It does not seem to us that is has been 5 years since the Haitian earthquake, or 4 years since Syria began to come undone at the seams.\u00a0 It does not seem like 4 weeks since I started writing daily posts.\u00a0 (It also doesn\u2019t seem like I have been on this earth for 30 years, but that may be another issue entirely!)<\/p>\n

Time passes like a slow trickling stream, flowing continuously as the ill effects of unjust events find their way downstream to collect in an ocean of sorrow.\u00a0 There are those who stand on the shore and do their best to alleviate the suffering they find collected there, but they are far too few to stop the inevitable rise of the waters.\u00a0 They make a difference with each action, but they are losing the fight against the sin and destruction found in the world. \u00a0All around them dams break allowing water to pour over the edge until a group of peacemakers can rally enough strength to stop the rush of destructive water.<\/p>\n

We stand idly by on formerly solid ground arguing over the best course of action while the ground beneath our feet becomes saturated and unstable.\u00a0 Those who can leave for higher ground do, leaving those who can not to fend for themselves.\u00a0 Time continues to pass as we do nothing to stem the rising tide of conflict that swirls around our feet.\u00a0 Soon the waves will reach new heights, and before long we will not be able to stand up under the crushing blows of the walls of bitter water.<\/p>\n

While time is infinite, we and our world are not.<\/p>\n

I hope that I am able to remember that we are not guaranteed our next hour, minute, or even our next breath.\u00a0 Even Jesus was only granted 33 years of earthly life to do what needed to be done.\u00a0 If I am to take steps to bring justice or restore peace to the world, I must act in urgency.\u00a0 Not foolishly in haste, but in urgency.\u00a0 I can not leave until tomorrow the work of today.\u00a0 I alone can not alter the outcome, but I must not let debate and discussion stop me from doing what I can.<\/p>\n

We are asked to be peacemakers, and we are called to great sacrifice.<\/p>\n

Frankly, it terrifies me.<\/p>\n

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I would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has rowed beside me on this journey, and especially those who have forced me to pick up the oars when my arms were tired and my hands blistered.\u00a0 I am sad to end what was an enlightening experience, but I am glad to have finished what was set before me.\u00a0 Perhaps next December will see a revival of the concept, and if that is to be, I welcome others who would like to participate in whatever way they would be interested.\u00a0 I will hopefully continue to write here, but the topics will not be specifically limited to peace.\u00a0 If you have been waiting to subscribe until you would not get daily emails, now is the time! \u00a0It has been an honor to have your attention, and one that I do not take lightly.<\/em><\/p>\n

Go in peace.\u00a0 jS<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"There<\/a>

There is still time to donate! A huge thank you to all of the donors who have contributed so far!<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0#25 Days of Peace (An Introduction)<\/a><\/p>\n

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