Fragments of Time

For many years, the railroad that unites the cities of New York and Buffalo went around a large, deep valley known as the Tunkhannock Vally. Studying the possibilities of lessening the distance, the directors of the undertaking, counseled by a group of engineers, decided to construct a gigantic viaduct through the valley that would cost twelve million dollars. . .

-Secretary, South American Division, at the time this article was written

For many years, the railroad that unites the cities of New York and Buffalo went around a large, deep valley known as the Tunkhannock Vally. Studying the possibilities of lessening the distance, the directors of the undertaking, counseled by a group of engineers, decided to construct a gigantic viaduct through the valley that would cost twelve million dollars. This work cut the trip from New York to Buffalo by twenty minutes. The directors paid twelve million dollars, a respectable sum, in order to gain twenty minutes.

How high is the value of time! It is not necessary to see time only through a utilitarian prism of gold through which glimmers only the basic factor of accumulated riches. At twenty-seven years of age William Carey was invited to assume the pastorate of a small Baptist church. The remuneration that he received was so modest that he was obliged to supplement it by working during the week as a shoemaker. In his eagerness for better preparation he always had books for study and investigation next to his work table. In seven years, thanks to wise and diligent administration of his time, Carey learned five languages, including Greek and Hebrew. This extraordinary knowledge of languages enabled him to supervise the work of Bible translation in approximately forty languages and dialects spoken by a third of the world population in his days.

Livingstone, when he was yet an adolescent, manifested an evident concern not to lose in trivialities the minutes that could be considered empty in his active daily program. From six in the morning until eight at night he worked in a textile factory. From eight to ten he studied in a night school. Afterwards, until twelve, he prepared the lessons for the following day. In spite of this intense and exhausting pro gram of work and study, he took advantage of the intervals that should have been dedicated to rest, to study Latin. The knowledge of this idiom afforded him a golden opportunity to read the great classics of literature, among them Virgil and Horace. His reputation for being against sterile inertia and unproductiveness was visible to the world.

No Time Need Be "Lost"

There are moments in the life of a minister that one could call "lost," but which could be of great usefulness if he duly took advantage of them. There are periods of waiting in railroad stations or airports, awaiting the hour to leave. There are moments that precede mealtime or minutes that pass while waiting for the dentist. It would be useless to look impatiently at the watch every few minutes thinking of the minutes that pass and return no more. We should know how to make use of these lost minutes and turn them into something useful and valuable.

It is astonishing what some have done in the pauses of a busy day. Strauss wrote one of his immortal compositions on the re verse of a menu while waiting to be served in a restaurant in Vienna. Willis Carrier, talented scientist, while waiting for a train in Pittsburgh was walking from one side to the other along the humid platform, absorbed in deep thought. Without premeditation an idea grew in his mind. Why not create an apparatus for air conditioning based on the natural principle of condensation applied to the human problem of humidity control and temperature. So began the prosperous air conditioning industry. Wesley also redeemed the fragments of his days. If the atmospheric conditions required a delay in his trip, he gathered a congregation and preached the message. On his trips he always carried books, and his diary speaks frequently of his reading habits. When he was sick and it was impossible to travel and preach, he showed an admirable disposition to read, write, and amplified his Commentaries on the New Testament.

Yes, while waiting for meals, the train, or while traveling, men diligent in the use of time have widened their culture by reading good books, writing great works, and conceiving ideas.

Success Depends Upon Right Use of Time

Upon the right improvement of our time depends our success in acquiring knowledge and mental culture. The cultivation of the intellect need not be prevented by poverty, humble origin, or unfavorable surroundings. Only let the moments be treasured. A few moments here and a few there, that might be frittered away in aimless talk; the morning hours so often wasted in bed; the time spent in traveling on trams or railway cars, or waiting at the station; the moments of waiting for meals, waiting for those who are tardy in keeping an appointment --if a book were kept at hand, and these fragments of time were improved in study, reading, or careful thought, what might not be accomplished.--Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 343, 344.

While a famous architect of one of the cathedrals of Europe was supervising the work of the operators that hung and adjusted the stained glass windows of the great sanctuary, he noticed that one of the glasses was smaller than the artist had specified. The solution for the problem was found by a humble artisan. Gathering the fragments of glass that had been rejected and considered useless, he produced, with genius and art, a window that admirably harmonized with the others.

Ministers that do not know how to use the fragments of time in wise and diligent form, reading, studying, and investigating, will suffer an irreversible process of mental atrophy. And an atrophied intelligence resembles an abandoned machine, ruined and corroded by rust.


Ministry reserves the right to approve, disapprove, and delete comments at our discretion and will not be able to respond to inquiries about these comments. Please ensure that your words are respectful, courteous, and relevant.

comments powered by Disqus
-Secretary, South American Division, at the time this article was written

January 1972

Download PDF
Ministry Cover

More Articles In This Issue

Heaven's Auditing Committee

It is important that those who engage in the work of God be constant learners in the school of Christ. Indeed, this is absolutely necessary if they would labor with acceptance in the great, the solemn work of presenting the truth to the world. If self is kept out of sight, and the workers labor with humility and wisdom, a sweet spirit of harmony will exist among them. . .

How Much Do You Really Know About Winning Mormons?

THE wisdom of the statement found in Evangelism, page 484, has been proved repeatedly while working with the Mormon people . . .

Plateau Performance

Determination is dynamic. It keeps a worker away from plateau performance and prods him constantly to strive for greater efficiently that results in a greater soul-winning program. The dynamics of leadership (a preacher is a leader) are built around determination. . .

A Walk With The King

THERE are times when man is intensely motivated in a search for personal glory. The acclaim and plaudits of our fellow men are never hard to take. Yet, the Christian minister is never motivated thereby. He is conscious of the fact that his purpose is not to be an object of glory, but in reality a subject who has an object to glorify, and that object must be his Lord. . .

The Foolishness of Preaching

THE preacher determines to a large degree whether preaching is dubbed as "foolishness" or is acclaimed as "the voice of God." It is indeed the height of folly to take one hour of someone's time on a Saturday morning and waste it on clerical vocalization. . .

A Letter From Your Pastor

This Sabbath three fine families will be baptized in our church. Since you will be asked to vote them into church membership, you should know a bit about them beforehand. . .

The Local Church Elder and MISSION '72

THE year of MISSION '72 is now upon us. Never in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has so much time, planning, and praying gone into a single program or project. MISSION '72 represents an evangelistic thrust far beyond anything ever before attempted. It is intended to bring to the attention of millions the glorious good news that we have a Saviour who once died for our sins and who is soon to return in glory.

Are You Walking in the Footsteps of Enoch?

What a wonderful life! Just think, walking with God, not just for a day or a week or a year, but for three hundred years! How many Christians are able to walk with God even for an hour? You may say, "Things were different in those days. Enoch was not surrounded by worldliness and temptations as we are." But God's messenger tells us. . .

Our Millennial Heritage

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS should be proud of their millennial beliefs. The second advent of Christ and the coming millennium have been the hope of Christians throughout the hundreds of years since Jesus promised that He would come again. Since this promise is sure, Adventist believers need not be ashamed to accept the heritage of our faith from the great Disappointment of the Millerites in 1844. . .

How to Construct Your Own Rainbow (Part I)

THROUGHOUT my life I have been fascinated by rainbows. Having observed these brilliant arches in the skies of such disparate areas as the desert State of Utah, the exotic island of Bali, the mysterious land of New Guinea, to say nothing of my own Maryland home, I always feel a lift to my spirits when I see a rainbow. . .

View All Issue Contents

Digital delivery

If you're a print subscriber, we'll complement your print copy of Ministry with an electronic version.

Sign up
Advertisement - SermonView - Medium Rect (300x250)

Recent issues

See All
Advertisement - SermonView - WideSkyscraper (160x600)