Our greatest treasure

My friend William died a few weeks ago just shy of his 80th birthday. William was a quiet, patient man. He used to come by the church and if we were busy he would just stand quietly, like time was nothing to him, until one of us noticed him and turned our attention his way. He spoke softly and clearly without demand. He wore the most magnificent galoshes almost always. He was determined to be ready for rain should it chance to come on any given day. They weren’t simply rain boots, they were nearly knee high, four-wheel drive, heavy boots. First time I saw him in his boots I thought maybe he worked as a fisherman on a deep sea fishing boat. I wondered how he’d wandered so far inland. 

Once a year he came by the church and didn’t say a word to anyone. He quietly put a mailing envelope in each staff member's mailbox and went on his way, clomping in his boots.

I remember opening my envelope in my first year here. Inside was a pocket calendar. It was inscribed with his name. That was it. No note, no explanation, just a tiny calendar. Hmm, I thought, does he think I don’t have a calendar? Nice enough, I thought, but strange. The next year, the same small gift. And the year after that and the year after that. I came to expect the calendar each year. He never did say why he gave us the calendars. I never asked. I guess I thought it would be rude.

Then he died. And I remembered him with such deep fondness. I suddenly missed him. I remembered his patient, quiet way and his big boots. I remembered the calendars, and in an instant I realized why he gave the gift each year. He was telling me that time is the greatest gift. Nothing else even comes close. The greatest treasure any of us has is time. It is easy to waste, squander, and throw away. It is also easy to value, treasure, and spend wisely. By the way he lived his life, William was transmitting a message about time - be patient, be kind, be quiet, give gifts, and prepare for rain. 

There is no greater treasure than the time we have been given to live and the people who we’ve been given to live it with. William taught me that.