1999
Back in the early eighties there was a popular song titled “1999”. Even if you’re not a Prince fan you’ve probably heard the song. There’s a good chance that you’ve even sung along or hummed the catchy hook, “Tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1999”.
When that song came out the year 1999 seemed like an eternity away… now that year that seemed like a millennium in the future is close to half a lifetime behind me.
Time is a peculiar thing. We wish it away as children and try to hoard every last drop as adults. But much like trying to lasso the air, time is mostly beyond our control.
Even further back in time, and what seemed like another eternity between the early 70’s and the pop music of the early 80’s, only nine years before the Prince song hit the charts, there was a song about time. That song was sung by a guy named Jim Croce.
Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” was included on the album “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim”. It was released in April of 1972. My years on this planet at that time was still being measured in single digits.
On September 20th 1973 Jim Croce’s time on this earth ended.
I recall as a kid listening and pondering that song. By the time it was released as a single the singer/songwriter was deceased.
“But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them…
I’ve looked around enough to know
That you’re the one I want to go
Through time with…”
What a wonderful love song… but in the end the writer’s greatest desire ended less than a year and a half later. He wasn’t going through time with the one he had in mind when he penned the song.
Before those catchy secular songs hit the airwaves I heard James 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
I got the meaning of the verse back then… but not nearly as deeply as I do today…
Time is a gift. We don’t get to choose the amount of days we’re given. God knows the number of sunrises and sunsets we’re allotted. In the end no one stays in this dimension forever.
Jim Croce and Prince are gone. So are many of our loved ones. And as another year rolls around it’s a good time to ponder the limited number of days we all get.
In the end one could argue that the purpose of this life is simply to choose where we’re going to spend eternity. And that verse from the Good Book is sounding more wise as the years stack up.
I pray you and your loved ones a blessed year in 2019. I pray that you and them would know the Truth that calls to our hearts throughout our lives… every single year.
Happy New Year!!!
Oh, and I hope you’ve gained enough wisdom to not party like it’s 1999.
Sunday, December 30, 2018 @ 9:43 am
My party days are long behind me. I never really actually “partied” in my younger days anyways, and I still avoid drunks and smokers as much as possible. You are absolutely right Brother, time is a very precious gift. One we should not waste apart from our loved ones. If this year has taught me anything in my old age, is that love is the best gift we have that shouldn’t be wasted!
Sunday, December 30, 2018 @ 12:02 pm
My time on earth has been longer than yours my friend. Hard to believe it has been so long since that song came out (1999) and Croce’s death. But we never know the amount of time we have. “Let me live what time I have for you Lord.” A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that time and Lord willing, there will still be more. I pray you and your family have a safe celebration and a God-filled blessing of a New Year.
Sunday, December 30, 2018 @ 8:05 pm
“Time is a gift. We don’t get to choose the amount of days we’re given.”
How truly this rings in my heart and soul these days, Floyd. Taking care of Danny’s mother is exacting such a toll on us, yet we wouldn’t have it any other way. We don’t know how many days she may have left here on earth, but it is our honor and privilege to make them count, to be filled with love.
Without revealing my “word” for 2019, trusting in God’s timing, and what He has called us to do, living in the moment, is everything to me right now. No, we can’t save time in a bottle, but certainly, God can!
Blessings, my brother, and Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 30, 2018 @ 8:55 pm
We decided this Christmas to not take a lot of pictures while the grandchildren were opening present and just be in the moment. It was a precious time, especially watching Reedley the 3 year old. I had to take my hearing aids off because all the kids were screaming so much. I bought them all a spider that only moves when you talk to it, and the louder you talk the faster it moves, worst then giving them drums. We cut way back on gifts, only bought for grandchildren, we adults stayed free of gift giving, loved that too. As always time marches on and our daughter and family left for Mn. Thinking back on our decision to enjoy the moment, turning off phones, less pictures, less gifts even and having them open them one at a time made for few minutes time stand still or at least it seem like it. Good post brother.
Monday, December 31, 2018 @ 2:53 pm
I love the new traditions you started this year, Betty! As we get older we need those “time stood still” moments more and more. You offer some great ways to make that happen. 🙂
Saturday, January 5, 2019 @ 8:48 pm
Betty, I am with you about gifts for the adults. When I open a gift – – I think to myself, “who should I give this to?” In the big fire in the area of city of Paradise, many lost homes and possessions. I am renting my guest mobile to a sweet senior citizen couple who lost everything. My Granddaughter and her husband were renting but all their possessions went up in smoke. I took a sweater (new that I had received the Christmas before) and some new PJs I had bought for myself for Christmas, and gave them to my granddaughter. I know we like pictures, but they do distract from the moment. Recently I had a computer melt down. Something bad got in my computer. I am not able to log in to my blog, and other things, but fortunately my son-in-law, retrieved my documents and other things. Still some things need attention. However I am thankful I can write my messages. Have a Happy New Year.
Sunday, December 30, 2018 @ 9:08 pm
Wow, what a powerful post, brother! I had to take a pause and read it aloud to Kevin. We can so relate to all you said here, including those songs. Kevin just told me that there is so much we take for granted and don’t appreciate like we should when we are young. Then we reach our ages and start to reap the repercussions of our younger years, and it all becomes real. I trust God will richly bless you and your loved ones in 2019, too. You continue to be such a blessing to us, and we praise God to have you in our lives.
Monday, December 31, 2018 @ 5:26 am
A blessed New Year to you and your family, Floyd. This is a great post. Causes us to pause. I like what Betty wrote about putting the camera down on Christmas morning and enjoy being in the moment. May we all do that. God bless you, Floyd, and thank you for the years of good, honest writing that has caused many minds to think and hearts to ponder.
Monday, December 31, 2018 @ 2:01 pm
Floyd, this is my favorite post of yours. The end of the year seems to magnify the pain of the past year even though there was so much good too. Thank you for your thoughts and wisdom. Happy New Year! Rachael
Monday, December 31, 2018 @ 2:55 pm
Thought-provoking post, as always, Floyd. Our grandson will graduate this year and it seems like just a few years ago that we flew to Japan for his birth! Some people may be able to put time in a bottle but for me time is more like the genie escaping from the bottle in a rush and puff of smoke.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 @ 12:23 pm
Got all those songs running through my head now. 🙂 I was a Prince fan and Jim Croce fan too, so it’s all good. My perspective of time continues to shift through the years. I’ll be glad when we’re one day free of the concept altogether. In the meantime, praying you and yours enjoy a meaningful and joyous 2019 ahead! Wonder what God will bring us this year…
Thursday, January 3, 2019 @ 3:22 pm
Floyd,
Your post made me think of Psalm 90:12 about numbering our days…still learning that one. Grateful for God’s grace more and more each day.
A blessed 2019 to you and yours 🙂
Saturday, January 5, 2019 @ 8:54 pm
The days go by and time flutters as we blink our eyes. I feel the urgency to write my messages and do live pod-casts on my series “Who is Jesus?” Recently something bad attacked my computer, and I am not able to log into my blog . . . so I can’t post in the blog, but fortunately I can write them and save them in a folder. I also lost the log-in to YouTube for my live pod-casts. I will work something out and son-in-law Randy will travel soon to help me fix some more things on my computer. I am not familiar with the singer or his song, but the idea of finding the right person to spend all time on earth with is certainly a good thing. I miss Bob and still dream of him and me doing things together. Have a wonderful New Year Floyd. You are my favorite blogger. 🙂
Sunday, January 6, 2019 @ 5:25 pm
Time does move on and we gather the memories of things found and things lost. The song of finding someone to spend the time — of our lives with, is precious. I don’t remember ever hearing that song, but the words are beautiful. Thanks Floyd for another good one.