I have been pondering how time can speed up and slow down. Returning from our cottage in P.E.I. many people asked how my summer was. My answer was inevitably, ‘It went by way to quickly.’ There is a general consensus that time seems to speed up as we get older. However, it can also slow down – for example at the beginning of doing something new – a new job or going to a new place for vacation. Initially the time seems to go very slowly but picks up speed as you become accommodated to the new situation.
Einstein’s theory of relativity postulated that time slowed
down as an object approaches the speed of light. So, time really is relative. I had an experience of this - or something
like this some years ago when time seemed to stand still. It occurred on my first visit to the Apple
Farm Community in Three Rivers, Michigan, where later I would go often for
spiritual retreats. The Apple Farm Community
was founded by Helen Luke, the author of wonderful books which delved into many
different aspects of life as reflected in literature. Luke’s magnum opus is Dark Wood to White
Rose: A Study of Meanings in Dante's Divine Comedy. It is a wonderful exploration of the
journey into wholeness which is offered to each of us.
My
introduction to Apple Farm occurred in the mid-1980’s. I was on what I believe was called an
introductory weekend with three other Apple Farm neophytes. There are many things about my time there
which are memorable and were pivotal in my life which was on the cusp of middle
age at that time. My memories of the
people I encountered and particularly Helen Luke are to this day important ones
as are the dreams I was given while I was there at that time and on subsequent
visits.
Of the many
memorable aspects of that time one event stands out. The four of us neophytes were meeting with
Helen in the afternoon of the day after our arrival. Just being with her was memorable and I
remember her as a presence that far exceeded her physical size. After some time, we were given a fifteen-minute
break. I decided to walk on the grounds and,
being very conscious of the time, I checked my watch to ensure that I would not
be late. You need to be aware that I
have quite an active complex about being on time, so this was not unusual for
me. After a while I checked my watch and
discovered that very little time had passed, and I still had ample time to
enjoy the grounds. Shortly after I
noticed one of the other newbies calling me to come back as - horrors of
horrors - they were waiting for me. I
had kept them all, including Helen, waiting - one of my great fears. I looked at my watch and discovered that it
had stopped shortly after I started my little sabbatical. I returned quickly giving my apologies and
checking my watch again noticed that it had started working once again and
continued to keep accurate time the rest of my stay at Apple Farm.
For that
brief interlude time stood still for me – me who has always been very aware of
time and being on time. I believe that
the one who sends us dreams and synchronicities was giving me that lesson. The trickster was playing with my on-time
complex. I still struggle with an overly
active desire to be on time to places, as my wife who has no problem in this
regard will attest. However, when this happens,
I remind myself of the time when my unconscious conspired for me to keep Helen
Luke waiting.
May you be
blessed to have time stand still for you on your journey.