gift of time

of all the things i possess in this world, the most precious is my time. i figure there's only a finite amount of it, and i have no way of knowing how close i might be to the bottom of this particular jar of peanut butter.

consequently, i tend to guard my time rather jealously. im choosy about where i go, what i do, and who i spend it with. and since there really isn't enough money in the world to in any way truly compensate me for what i feel to be the value of one hour's worth of my time, it makes for a lousy work ethic, because i can only be motivated to do things in which i perceive there to be some other intrinsic value besides mere money.

it also makes me nearly delirious when i'm given time i didn't think i would have.

like tomorrow. and thursday. and friday.

where did all this splendiferous time come from?

i cleared my calendar in anticipation of jury duty. i'd begged off three times in a row and this time, i figured, they weren't letting me out of it. but after listening to president obama's speech this afternoon, i was quite resigned to go - looking forward to it, even. after all, as my friend laura sadly said, when i asked her how to get out of doing it, im the sort of person they want.

or, maybe not.

when i checked the web site this evening, it said i didn't have to go.

i was in the middle of my exultations when i remembered something i said this morning, in an off-hand kind of way, the way you make promises to kids or spouses when you're not really listening.

if You get me out of jury duty, i'd said, as i was dusting off my altar and lighting a bit of sage, i promise i'll spend the next three days Writing (which, in all fairness to me and the Powers That Be, i'm itching to do. my friend leaves for hawaii in just a week.)

i think this falls under the category of you just never know Who might be listening.

and furthermore, i am highly confident the War is going to end. blessed, blessed be.