On: The culture of time
I’m not sure to what extent we are ever conscious of this, but the U.S. is a culture of time. That is, everything is judged by time, it is the ‘limiting reagent‘ for nearly everything. In other words, we view time as more important than relationships or events. I mean, doesn’t it strike you odd that the following devices have the time displayed so prominently on them: cell phones, microwaves, vcr’s, ovens, coffee makers, computers? Why not just watches? We’re addicted to time.
Obviously, some of us have fought it better than others. I have failed. I am a time-mizer, and have a tendency to get cranky when running late, or if things outside my control cause me to be late. God, in his infinite humor, decided that the best thing for me to do with this is to have me lead a small English Language School out of our local church. Why is this humorous? Because, if you want to know how best to step outside of the culture of time, just find anyone who immigrated here from somewhere outside of the “West.”
You see, other cultures live by other ways of doing life. Some, in fact alot of them, value people or events. Being so deeply mired in time, I have a hard time understanding what this really actually means. I do know one aspect of it: it means that if something starts at 7:00:00 pm EST, it means that the time you can show up in good conscience is between 6:45 and 7:45, and it’s all good.
Obviously they aren’t showing up late to tick me off, they just don’t see time and being on-time as the thing that directs their day. I feel as if I have much to learn from them. Anyway, here’s a funny link that probably goes hand-in-hand with this topic: Switch. Off.
I regret to inform you that after taking your link o’ the day to heart, I will no longer be a faithful reader of FFMS. I will also lose my job. And never be found again. If you get worried email me… wait – call me… no that thing has internet so it’s a computer… smoke signals… that’s the ticket – smoke signals.
Whatever. Carrier Pigons 4tw.
In a way, I’ve already done what that link says to do… as I still don’t have internet access at home. Maybe that’s more like halfway.
Eric is the time Nazi! No peace for you! You late to my party! No party for you!
I do think you are better about it, though, I must say. I have met people who are unbearable when people are late, and I think some moderation and understanding are good.
I also need to say that the biggest test of my time-Nazi-ness was a person from Tunisia named Meher. We must be at the church by 9AM, but it’s 9:10 and he just has to check his e-mail before we leave.
“Meher, the bus will leave you if we aren’t there.”
“No, no- this is too important. Just five minutes.”
Well, he was always right- the group didn’t leave because NONE of the Tunisian students were on time! In fact, we were usually some of the first people there, and Meher ended up waiting on the others for a good 30 minutes.
It’s amazing how different our concept of time is from, well…EVERY other country in the world. I wonder what Jesus’ concept of “on-time-ness” was?
[...] Here’s the scene: it’s 12:17pm, you’ve just arrived at the Mall of Georgia. You have an eye doctor’s appointment at 12:30pm, and you haven’t eaten. You want Chick-Fil-A, but you also want to get to your appointment on time. Even worse, you’re so blippin’ time-sensitive, that in your head 10 minutes early means “almost late.” [...]