Generosity with Time?

Robert Kaita,
Plasma Physics,
Princeton

[Sept. 10, 2012]–

Few academics consider themselves to be particularly rich. We may even pride ourselves for not being tempted by wealth, as evidenced by the profession we chose.This doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything else that we value highly. Time, for example, is very precious to us. We often consider how to spend it with as much care as the most parsimonious of bankers with their money.

There are occasions, though, where we just might need to be a little more generous with our time. Consider this example from my personal experience. Some years ago, a colleague in the Department of Philosophy received a copy of a book on science that was about to be published. It was written for popular audiences by a prize-winning author. Since my friend thought I might be interested in the subject, he sent the book to me. To read and review it would have little professional benefit to me, but I complied with his request nonetheless.

Voicing Reservations

After reading it,I felt that the book was very well written and did an excellent job in summarizing our current state of knowledge. I mentioned this in my letter to the publisher, but I also included some philosophical reservations I had, as a Christian, about the writer’s approach to the topic. I received a letter of thanks for my thoughts, and was informed that they were passed on to the author.

A few years later, I was sent another manuscript by the same author. Apparently, he appreciated what I wrote regarding his earlier book, and requested that the publisher ask me for a review. Again, I thought that the writer did an excellent job on a very difficult topic, but once more, I felt that I should offer my perspectives as a Christian.

Surprising Follow Up

I didn’t think more about any of this until quite some time later, when I received a call from the author’s wife. She gave me the sad news that her husband had passed away. He wasn’t very old, and she was quite distraught. She remembered how much her husband valued my letters, and thus contacted me.

It seems that what I wrote had encouraged the author to talk to his wife about how there must be a God, and the possibility of a hereafter. Until then, she was an avowed atheist with no belief in life after death. But now, it’s her fervent hope that she’ll meet her husband again.

I don’t know if the author made a confession of faith before his passing, or if his wife will accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. What I do know is that God calls us to share our faith through the unique opportunities He provides. The words of an old hymn remind me to pray that God will Make Me a Blessing!

Let’s do that by being generous with that valuable commodity – our time – as we have opportunity today.

© 2012  Robert Kaita
photo (c) istockphoto