Valuing Time

Watching GMA’s Power House with the Jay Taruc episode stirred a  brief pain in my soul.  The exciting life of Jay at work that expressed his various passions tipped over somehow when the debilitating ailment of his daughter was discussed.  My heart went out to Jay, in sympathy and admiration of his strength to stand and forge ahead with his advocacies as he faces the challenge of a daily struggle with faith and hope that his little girl would be granted the miracle of healing or a substantial and happy life.

Equally touching were the words of advice from Joe Taruc, a renowned broadcaster whose contribution in the media industry has laid  apermanent mark in the annals of investigative journalism and its advocacies.  Teary-eyed Joe Taruc, whose obvious advance in age regretfully shared his wish that he could have spent more time with his family and watched his children grow.

If Jay were a testimony to Joe’s lack of time, I should say, Joe Taruc is greatly blest.  The young documentary journalist shows a serious professional focus as well as a responsible and loving family man. 

The message is clear from this two generations of great men.  The value of time.

As Joe valued the time he spent to keep us informed as he pursued his responsibility as a mediaman in  his younger years, Jay Taruc has also shown how he values the hours he spends with his family and his workmates.

This brought to mind how we do spend our time. 

Every day, if we work  in a regular office, we spend eight hours at work.  If we live far from our workplace, we use up thirty minutes to one hour on the road.  That means we spend a minimum of nine hours away from home.   At the start of our day, we spend at least an hour juggling between the bathroom and the kitchen.  That takes a conservative ten hours away from your day already.

If you love to sleep, you spend at least six to eight hours in bed.  That means you already take eighteen hours of your day from your time lot.  What do you do with the remaining six hours?  Do you take time to talk to your spouse?  Linger and play with your kids?  Hang out with friends?  Work on a hobby?  Do home chores?  Spend time with your old folks?  Where is God in your day?

Sometimes in the business of our day, the most is important is what we miss.  Let us not get caught missing the essential.  How do you spend your day?  Let’s value our time.  We can’t gain it back.