Time & Being

I am re-reading "The Happiness Equation" by Niel Pascha. I like the space scribbles he uses to explain concepts in a simple way. Inspired by his 56 hr bucket analogy I have been examining closely about my own time buckets. I plan to reflect on that in my other blog but reading this book along with Daniel Pink's 'When' and Charles Duhigg 'The power of habit", things seem to have converged for me

in my understanding and management of time.  As I sit here early morning hammering on my laptop keyboard, I am transcribing here a poem I wrote on time a few weeks ago on my date with my daughter Hannah. My mind struggled as I spent time that Saturday contemplating all the things I had to get done and comparing it against the time I was spending with my daughter. Reflection and introspection resulted in this poem I penned that Saturday afternoon.

Our investments so measured in greedy returns,

Be it of money,  resources or relationships, 

Or Time spent or lost spun like the rings of Saturn,

Displaying time & again our poor skill in life's gamesmanship.

Lessons I learn are riches beyond measure,

Deep reflections are now collections of timeless treasure,

More valuable than war chests, spoils & stock returns,

It is time to live life with intentional pleasures. 

Time is one constant given to all - be it for the rich or the poor,

Be it east, west north or south it flows unhinged & unshackled,

If we endure, focus less on the hunt & drive to ever procure, 

It is in just 'being'; time's timeless secrets unravel

Where time slows & multiplies - 

For a life to be once more called, 

well-traveled, better lived and fully qualified - 

For heaven's reward in being fully present & fully enthralled!

- Time & Being!

Hupernikao

Darkness & shadows loom large,

In a fallen world slipped off the barge,

I thank the good Lord for His steadfast love,

That pulled my soul from the pit of despair. 

Circumstances, disasters, plagues that lay waste,

Arrows aimed to throw hearts hope to displace,

His wings and pinions covered my face,

Keeping me from falling, as angels held me in His Grace.

Beyond this place of hell's disgrace, 

Charges & condemnations didn't stick from satan's swinging mace,

Who or what can separate me from the love of Christ!

His strong arms pulling me into my Father's embrace.

It matters not how bloody the fight,

In battles & wars when tens of thousands fall in fearful fright,

He has in all things made me more than a Conqueror, 

He is the Captain & Commander of my Destiny,

The King of my Soul & the King of Kings of my All!!

Background to my composition Hupernikao!

I love William Ernest Henley's poem 'Invictus' and his indomitable spirit to not give up. We are all not born with such will power but blessedly so, as believers, we have been bought at a costly price with the precious blood of Christ. Unlike Henley, I know and thank the God I serve there are no gods for me to thank for but one - the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The one who became man incarnate to pay my debt, and purchase me out of throes of death. His grace and will power gives me hope and makes me a 'hupernikao' (what a strange Greek word but we will come to that later). I know I am not my own and my partnership with Him is what makes Him the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.

I composed 'Hupernikao' for this reason in Greek it means 'overwhelmingly conquer' or to plainly say:  'you are a super-conqueror'. Paul the wise scribe of the new testament specifically wrote using that word in Romans 8 knowing the context of his pagan audience. Our modern-day sportswear and sporting company 'Nike' takes the name from the Roman goddess of victory. I love Nike clothes and the swoosh on my hat is a conversation starter for me these days to reveal my identity as expressed in Romans 8.

On a side note from the Wikipedia entry here about our mythical lady Nike:

Nike was variously described as the daughter of the Titan Pallas and the goddess Styx, and the sister of Kratos (Strength), Bia (Force), and Zelus (Zeal).^[4]

"And Styx the daughter of Ocean was joined to Pallas and bore Zelus (Emulation) and trim-ankled Nike (Victory) in the house. Also she brought forth Cratos (Strength) and Bia (Force), wonderful children."

In other sources, Nike was described as the daughter of Ares, the god of war.

"Ares . . . O defender of Olympos, father of warlike Nike (Victory)."

Paul uses the term "Hupernikao"  in Romans 8: 37 to explain our overwhelming status against tough situations.

“³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake, we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are hupernikao [more than conquerors] through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Rom 8:31-39 NIV] 

I have been long winded about this but wanted to give my context for my composition but didn't know this post would get that long so I am going to stop this post here. In the next the poem..."Hupernikao" from the super conqueror in training.

Shalom and Blessings,

Sam