Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bill Watterson, the author of the poplar American comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, once wrote, “There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want.” There’s never enough time to do all the nothing you want. If you are familiar with Calvin and Hobbes, then you will likely understand what he is alluding to. Calvin’s whole ‘schtick’ is that he doesn’t like being told what to do: by his parents or his teachers. What does Calvin want to do? Play with Hobbes, his stuffed tiger. Calvin’s parents want him to be “productive,” to fold his laundry, to clean his room. Calvin’s teachers want him to behave in the classroom, to study. But what does Calvin want to do? Nothing. Just a whole lot… of nothing. Oh, he wants to do things, sure. He wants to adventure. He wants to go sledding. He wants to build “deranged, mutant killer snow goons,” i.e., abominable snowmen, to terrify the neighbor girl, Susie. He wants to stare at the sky and philosophize. He wants to do… nothing: nothing productive, but also, nothing malicious, not really. He just wants to play and to laugh and to rest well.
In one comic strip, which embodies this attitude particularly well, Calvin has a conversation with Hobbes. In the first panel, Hobbes the tiger lies in the grass with his back against the trunk of a tall tree. Calvin walks up and asks, “Whatcha doin’?” Hobbes replies, “Nothing.” The next panel illustrates Calvin, a bit bewildered, who wonders, “Nothing at all?” With his eyes closed in relaxation, Hobbes answers, “Nope.” In the final panel, Calvin sits down next to Hobbes and mimics his comfortable pose against the tree trunk. He says, “I’ll help.” And Hobbes responds with a big smile, “Please do.”
Can we even appreciate something so comical? With the “American Dream” and American industry, and the American entrepreneurial spirit breathing down our necks, can we appreciate the beauty of doing nothing, or rather, just doing simple things, wholesome things, and enjoying the beauty, and the splendor, and the goodness… of their simplicity. The American ethic is an industrial ethic. The American ethic is a busy ethic. Busyness can be good. And busyness can be sinful. “Making the most of our time” does not necessarily mean “being busy.” I’ll say that again, “Making the most of our time” does not mean “being busy.” Yes, it does mean being positively productive. But it does not mean capitalizing on every second, certainly not in a selfish, hedonistic way. As Christians, we must learn how to balance obligations, personal ambitions, needs, wants, desires, and the call of Christ on our lives—most importantly, this final aspect. We must prioritize the call of Christ—the imperatives of the gospel—over and above selfish wants and worldly temptations.
In today’s Epistle Reading, the Apostle Paul offers instructions for Christian living. Chapter 5 (which we heard today) piggybacks on Chapter 4. One of St. Paul’s chief emphases, a sort of overarching theme for the latter part of the epistle, is that,
“… you [believers] must no longer live as Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Eph 4:17-18).
What defines the “Gentile” heart? Paul writes, “… they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed” (v. 19). The Gentile way of living is (1) sensual, (2) impure / unrighteous, (3) greedy. And Paul continues, “… you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully (v. 25).” “In your anger do not sin” he says, quoting Psalm 4:4. Additionally, the Gentile way of life is (4) deceitful, and (5) wrathful. Sensuality, impurity, greed, falsehood, anger: these are what characterize the non-believer. But according to the Apostle, the “fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph 5:9). Sensuality and impurity vs. goodness, righteousness, and truth: this is the contrast we are presented with in today’s Epistle.
And what is most indicative of our spiritual condition as Christians? Plainly: it is how we use our time. It is the things we do, be they sensual or righteous!
“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them… . See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph 5:11, 15-17; italics mine).
“See then that you walk circumspectly, redeeming the time. Because the days are evil.” What is “circumspection”? A $1000-word, for sure. Circumspection: “prudence.” Prudence: “vigilance.” We have a special word for this in Orthodox theology, nÄ“psis, “watchfulness.” “See then that you [are watchful], redeeming the time.”
Do we ever pause throughout our days, brethren, to ask, “Why am I doing this?” As we cram our calendars full of activities, do we ever ask, “Why am I doing this? What is the point of this? What is the goal of this?” Sometimes, we catch ourselves in sin, and we may think this very thing. The man at the bar about to order his fifth beer may pause to ask, “Do I need it? Why am I here? Does this really make me feel better? How is this going to affect my wife and my children when I come home?” The woman who is sending explicit text messages to her coworker, with a husband and child at home, may ask, “What am I doing? Where do I think this is going?” The context of this reflection may be as dire as these two scenarios. OR it may be as comically simple as the man standing at the all-you-can-eat buffet, saying, “What… am I doing? Am I really this hungry? Why does an all-you-can-eat buffet even exist?”
Sadly, so many of us run through our lives with a total disregard for the “redemption of our time.” We are Christians! But do we live like it? Does the high school student planning to go to college take the time to ask, “Why?” or do they simply go, because that’s what Mom and Dad want, because that’s what the teachers expect, because that’s what society expects of a straight-A student? Does the newly married couple who takes out a 30-year mortgage, two car loans, a boat loan, an RV loan; who applies for six credit cards, ever stop to ask, “Why? With these financial obligations, what am I binding my time to? What am I committing my life to?” Does the parent who comes home from a long day of work just to plop down in front of the television for the evening ever stop to ask, “Why? My children are in the other room. Why am I not being with them?” Does the young family with multiple children in multiple sports with multiple extracurricular commitments ever stop to ask, “Why? Why are we doing all these things? We never eat a meal together. We don’t get time to ever really speak to one another. How does this activity benefit the Kingdom of God? How does this activity edify my faith? Is this activity a redemptive use of my time?”
We are in the midst of the holiday season, brethren. It is the most wonderful, and the most busy time of year. Do I like the busyness? Yes, I like some of the busyness. When does busyness become sin? When does charity and gift-giving become rampant consumerism? Do our commercial celebrations lead to spiritual drunkenness? Can we justify our behavior before God? This is a question for each one of us to reflect on. Life is short. Life is a gift—the gift of God (Gen 2:7, Jas 1:17). “Making the most of our life [our time]” does not mean “being busy.” In every instance, every moment, we must ask ourselves, “Is this the will of God for me?” It seems like a question of immense gravity. How can we give a satisfactory answer? We may not be able to equate joy or personal fulfillment with the simplicity of Calvin and Hobbes’ “doing nothing.” However, the will of God for our lives is more straightforward, more simple, more uncomplicated, less busy, than what we might imagine. How does the Apostle conclude today’s reading?
“Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. … [S]peak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph 5:17, 19).
And elsewhere he writes, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess 5:16-18). Is it that simple? Do not waste your time in sensual impurity, anger, greed, but spend your time in worship, in prayer, in thanksgiving. What is a godly use of my time, we must ask, in all seasons of the year. “So, whether you eat or drink or in whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31). Do all things, says the Apostle, to the glory of God.
Through the prayers of our holy fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!