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| Yap Pin Xiu, Singapore's double gold medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics |
'Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time, because the days are evil' Eph 5:15-16
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics Games are both over. Both were held in Jul-August 2021 delayed by the raging Covid-19 pandemic. Even so the pandemic especially in Tokyo raged on during the Games. Many criticised holding these games at such bleak times. I was not one of them. I felt for the athletes, the time and sacrifice they gave to training, should not be downplayed. For many these games gave them the opportunity of that one moment in time
'One Moment in Time' is the theme song of the 1988 Summer Olympics held in Seoul Korea. The sentimental ballad expresses the very sentiments of the Olympian; the sacrifices and the crowning glory of an Olympic medal. It is exactly the pride that Singapore's paralympian swimmer, Ms Yap Pin Xiu must have felt when she received two gold medals.
Each day I live
I want to be a day to give the best of me
I'm only one, but not alone
My finest day is yet unknown
I broke my heart for ev'ry gain
To taste the sweet, I face the pain
I rise and fall, yet through it all this much remains
I want one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity
I've lived to be the very best
And I want it all, no time for less
And I've laid the plans
Now lay the chance here in my hands
Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity
You're a winner for a lifetime
If you seize that one moment in time
Make it shine
Give me
One moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will be, I will be free
I will be free
I will be
I will be free
This song captures the moments of personal achievements; feats that we should all recognise and celebrate. Yap Pin Xiu has achieved much and being young, she will achieve more in the future. Do you know that in 2018 she was a nominated member of the Singapore Parliament? She is a five-time Paralympic gold medallist, a one-time IPC gold medallist and holds two world records. She was awarded the Singapore Pinjat Jasa Gemilang (the national Meritorius Service Medal). She deserves her one moment in time.
The ancient Greeks have a word for this defining moment, Kairos (καιρός) meaning the opportune or critical moment. It defines time in terms of the meaning of time as distinct from Chronos (χρόνος) which can be defined as the movement (passage) of time.
Kairos suggests that time has value and is not just a quantity. In the New Testament, Kairos is used to describe the appointed time or the God-ordained time. For example,
'You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.' Romans 5:6
'The time has come, He said. The kindom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.' Mark 1:15
Indeed there are God-given moments such as the times when Jesus walked this earth. For many Christians, there is not one moment in time compared to the time when we received salvation and confessed Jesus as Saviour and Lord,
"In the time of My favour I heard you and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation.' 2 Cor 6:2
On hearing the Olympic anthem sung by Whitney Houston, we would have concluded that the singular acheivement, well deserved no doubt, is made possible entirely by human efforts. Not detracting anything from the celebratory moments of the Olympian medallists, it will do well to remember especially for Christians, to appreciate God's hand in all our greatest moments and achievements.
'So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up.' Galatians 6:9-10
We should learn to recognise the God-appointed times, those times when His will and His times intersect with ours. That will be our one moment in time; God has made all things beautiful in His time.
In His Time
In His time, in His time,
He makes all things beautiful, in His time,
Lord, please show me everyday,
As You're teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.
He makes all things beautiful, in His time,
Lord, please show me everyday,
As You're teaching me Your way,
That You do just what You say, in Your time.
In Your time, in Your time
You make all things beautiful in Your time
Lord my life to you I bring
May each song I have to sing
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time
Lionel
Photo from Straits Times
Like so many others, I am fascinated by the notion of time, be it kairos or chronos. Very often we are unconscious of the passing of time until we look at the chronos of our watch and we miss the kairos of the moment. There is no reality in one sense other than the moment that we live NOW - the last second is gone, the next is yet to come. Only this moment is real. Hence, James writes, "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.'” James 4:13-15
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