Once stood an ancient church, its age surpassing a century. Due to the old priest's ailing health, the Church Committee made the decision to appoint a new clergyman. Taking charge of the church, the young priest explored the building and contemplated renovating it to enhance its allure.
With the assistance of the church committee, they embarked on numerous endeavors. They acquired new carpets, painted the walls, and replaced the ceiling, among other things. As part of the renovation, the priest considered replacing the old key-powered clock, known for its noisy mechanism, with a sleek electronic timepiece. However, out of respect for the sentimental attachment of the elderly congregation, the new clock was positioned alongside the old one, for the time being.
The new clock exuded joy and grace, each second marked by a cheerful "tick," as it leapt forward. There was vitality and enthusiasm in its movements. Simultaneously, the old clock, with great effort and the creaking of its wheels, endeavored to keep pace with the new clock. Initially, the new clock carried an air of pride and hesitated to engage with its predecessor. However, as time wore on and monotony set in, the new clock resolved to initiate a conversation.
During their exchange, the new clock inquired, "How long have you been here?" The old clock responded, its voice echoing the passing of more than a century.
Upon hearing this, the new clock fell into contemplation, attempting to calculate the number of jumps it would need to make to reach the milestone of a hundred years. One minute entailed sixty jumps, one hour required three thousand six hundred jumps, one day necessitated eighty-six thousand four hundred jumps, one month encompassed two million five hundred ninety-two thousand jumps, and one year encompassed thirty-one million five hundred thirty-six thousand jumps. Calculating the jumps for a hundred years yielded a staggering figure of three billion one hundred fifty-three million six hundred thousand jumps. Shortly after this revelation, the new clock ceased its rhythmic leaps.
Observing the silence, the old clock inquired about the reason behind it. The new clock replied, "I was calculating the number of jumps you have accomplished over the last hundred years. You have made millions of jumps. I doubt I would be able to match that magnitude. The thought of all those jumps overwhelms me, causing stress and immobilizing me. Helplessly, I find myself unable to mark even a single second. In fact, I've experienced a metaphorical 'heart attack' contemplating this."
Understanding the predicament, the old clock posed a question, "I comprehend your situation, but can you jump for just one second?" The new clock confidently responded, "That's quite simple—I can effortlessly leap for one second. It's an exceedingly easy task."
The old clock encouraged, "Then do it."
Inspired, the new clock resumed its rhythmic jumping, focusing solely on one second at a time.
The moral of this tale is to avoid dwelling on the entirety of a lifetime's tasks. Refrain from feeling overwhelmed or helpless when considering the future. Instead, concentrate on the present moment and take it one day at a time. This approach will enable us to continue our journey. At the onset of a school year, students may feel despondent while glancing at the thickness of their textbooks. By following the advice of the old clock—by focusing on one sentence or page at a time—they can complete the book within a year. Never succumb to depression or discouragement. Progressing one step at a time will lead you to your destination. Do not surrender! Refuse to be a quitter!
Do not worry about the abundance of tasks to be accomplished in a year. Simply focus on one task at a time.
Many individuals often contemplate and question how to lead a life free from sin when they dedicate themselves to Jesus. However, you will discover that it is effortless to live in the present moment without sin. By focusing on the here and now, we can strive to live a life untainted by wrongdoing.
