Made for such a time as this

“You and I were made for time such as this.” Have you ever heard that from someone before?

There are a few things more perplexing to me. For one, I sometimes feel like I would have fitted right in to that 40s vibe, rocking the upturned trilby and pin-striped suits and hanging out in jazz lounges.

Taking a country drive in a Catalac and enjoying the bliss of no internet or social media.

Aaah! Just imagine… a life that’s a bit slower. A life where you can actually enjoy one minute alone with your brain.

But here we are.

It’s 2021, still in the grip of a global pandemic, and we’re being bombarded by billboards and phones *beep* that *beep* interrupt *beep* every *beep* billionth *beep* of *beep* a *beep* second *beep* *beep* *beep* …

And a few weeks ago, this phrase crossed my path which has its origins in the book of Esther in the Bible:

And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Esther 4:14

It has a clarion call about it. Especially amongst evangelicals. But at its core I think it poses some questions to you and I about the life we find ourselves living amidst the world as it is today. One obvious question you and I have to ask ourselves: “Why were we made for such a time as this?”

It might be a simple question for you to answer… or it may be more lofty.

I’ve discovered a wonderful complementary circle to my work as a musician. Part of my work is to perform all sorts of gigs – and I am fortunate enough to do so regularly. The other part of my work is teaching music to young children. The two vocations inform each other quite well, I have discovered. For example, if you can keep the attention of a class of five year olds, then you’re much more likely to be able to entertain adults patrons.

Interesting to me, is that the link between holding the attention of kids means that most of the time you can hold the attention of adults, but not vice versa. Could this be that every adult can relate to the little child within their psyche, but children can’t comprehend the adult world?

I’m discovering, in my own journey, that when entertainment, education or learning are each made simple, it’s made more memorable. The genius of kindergarten teachers is the ability to make complicated stuff simple.

So how does this relate to being “made for such a time as this”? I think the answer is pretty simple, rather than lofty. And the instruction for all of us is found a few books later in the Bible.

Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

Imagine such a world.