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 If…

Such a small but significant word, isn’t it?

If I could be any songwriter, I would have to give some thought to choosing Jim Croce. The man had such an artistry about him. The song that sticks in my head is his classic, “Time In A Bottle.”

This song so embodies the power of “if.”

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day 'til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure, and then
Again, I would spend them with you

I’ve written lots of times about my innate slowness. I have an interesting relationship with time. It always seems like it’s going too fast for me. I’ve tried to make myself adjust, but I’ve come to recognize that I am the way that I am by design.

But IF…

If I could save time in a bottle, I would save it all and spend it with my beloved. But then, I’d want to spend it with my kids too… and my precious grand babies… and so many dear friends and loved ones.

But it’s all a pipe dream, isn’t it? There is no saving of time. It marches on incessantly—at least for now. I guess the thing I really want is to slow down certain moments spent with people I love, to stretch them out and drink deeply of the joy of sharing moments together.

I would spend more time standing on a mountain top with my love and basking in the beauty of the surroundings and her company. I would spend more time wrestling with special little boys and throwing the football around with big ones. I would spend more time doing the things I was asked and less time making excuses for the things I didn’t want to do.

I would spend more time looking in the hurting faces of my fellow travelers, weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice.

But my deepest joy in this world always comes back to the unconditional love and grace of God that is reflected in the face of my beloved.

I’ll borrow Mr. Croce’s words again:

I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go through time with

You just have to give it another listen, don’t you?