525,600 Minutes!

Have you ever heard the soundtrack of the movie ‘Rent’? Unlike most soundtracks I found it extremely thought provoking. Did you know that there are 525,600 minutes in a year? It sounds like a lot but in reality, considering how much we do, it isn’t much at all.


How do we measure a year in our lives? Do we measure it in "daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee"? Or do we measure it in "miles of laughter or strife"? Most of us are so caught up in the journey of life and where it’s going to take us, not to mention that continuous rat-race to reach the top, so that we forget or choose to ignore what really matters.


I can’t speak for everyone, but when I reflect on a year gone by I usually measure it by my success or failure. I think about how much closer I’ve got to reaching my goals and making my dreams a reality and what I can do differently or do better. Don’t misunderstand, there is nothing wrong with that kind of evaluation at all, but at the same time what would happen if we measured a year in our life with ‘Love’? What if we also measured a year by how much we loved and how much of that love we showed to the rest of humanity? I know that majority of those who will read this are activists and work for change, but I know that even though I’m an activist, more often than not I don’t go that extra mile to show the love I feel. Either I’m too busy trying to make things happen or sometimes (as most often is the case) I’m too busy to realize how much a person needs even a little bit of love.


While on the subject of love, I thought I should ponder a bit on what love could be. To this day no one has been able to define exactly what love is all about. I was reading an article written by the Rev. Dr. Selwyn Hughes where he said "‘Love’ it has been said, ‘is a colour that can be worn with anything – overalls or evening dress.’ Or think of it as a kind of overcoat, if you like, a garment that covers all other virtues. It brings harmony to all disharmonies."


With such a powerful tool at our disposal, most of us don’t use it to its full capabilities. How much can you do in a minute? It takes less than a minute to smile at someone and assure them that there are people who care in the world. It takes less than a minute to bend down and a hug a child who is starved for affection. It takes less than a minute to reach out and squeeze the hand of a friend going through a dark moment and assure them that you will be there for them should they need it.


We have 525,600 God given minutes in a year to take advantage. At this moment there are approximately 6,470,818,671 people in the world. If we can’t touch them all, we can touch at least one, and it will be most effective if we do it with love.


"It’s not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters." – Mother Teresa

 

 

dsc01073_295

 

Love in its simplest form can be found in the smile of a child.