Musings

Doomsday Clock

by | Jan 16, 2012 | 2012, Musings | 0 comments

According to The Washington Post, the “Doomsday Clock” (carried out by the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists”) has been reset and we are all marching more quickly towards some kind of a worldwide apocalypse. This figurative timepiece has been used since 1947 to raise awareness about the decisions the world is making and the potential impact those decisions have on our global society.

In the past, the clock was primarily used as a barometer of how we were dealing with nuclear proliferation. This past Tuesday though, they moved the clock forward because of serious concerns about climate change, sustainable sources of energy and apathy on the part of world leaders.

If you are interested, I can tell you that the clock now sits at 11:55 pm, five minutes before the “doomed day” will end.

I realize that the purpose of this clock is to heighten our awareness of major issues facing our planet. And overall, that is a good thing. But it got me to pondering my own “countdown clock.” The verse that quickly flashed into my mind was from Psalm 90 verse 12, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Scholars believe that Moses wrote this song as he neared his own death. He lived to 120 years or so. That means he was on his 43,800th day (or so) when he wrote those words. And I doubt that he literally counted days, crossing them off the calendar as they went by. Instead, he was urging us to use the cadence of the “ticking” in order to examine those days. The issue was/is how to gain wisdom along the journey.

The Doomsday Clock folks want us to be cognizant of how much time they estimate the earth has left (based on our global decisions), but Moses wants us to consider carefully how we are using our own allotted days.

In this song he mentions a potential life span of 70 years or maybe 80. In other verses we see that same kind of “estimate.” But regardless of the volume of days we are given, Moses is highlighting the need to use them in a manner that gains us wisdom along the way.

This week, we all need to realize two important truths:
Life is short….we must cherish each and everyday. They all have significant value. Work is to be valued. Mundane chores are to be valued. Rest is to be valued. Play is to be valued. Service is to be valued.
Time is precious…we must dole the hours out carefully. They should be based on the real priorities of our lives. Let’s avoid wasting them based on someone else’s priorities.

I am 62 years old and have no idea where the big and little hands on my personal clock are pointing. But I do know that He gave me today. I really ought to use it wisely. How about you?

By His Grace and for His Glory,
Sherry L. Worel

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