My Two Watches

Years ago, I was turning 60. Don't ask how many years ago! Anyway, my sister asked me what I'd like for my birthday. I said I'd like a watch. A simple watch. She got me a Timex watch. I remember those old Timex commercials. John Cameron Swayze saying, "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking!" Yes, a simple Timex watch. Thank you, Sister! The dial even lights up when you press the stem. Bonus! Now when I wake up in the middle of the night, I can check the time to see how much I should be worrying about being exhausted in the morning. That Timex watch served faithfully for many years. Eventually, the watch started going slower. Then stopped. Dead battery. No problem! I'll just go to the store and buy a new battery. I took the back off my watch and took the battery out. No problem! Then, I went to the store and bought a replacement. No problem! Pretty cheap, too. Cheap always make me happy! I'm all happy. I can fix my dead watch. Except, except, I can't get the new battery to stay in the battery hole. It keeps popping out. Problem! Maybe if I try holding the battery in place while I put the back of the watch on? Nope! I can't get the back of the watch to stay on, either. I have a new watch battery with a watch that won't stay together. Problem! My Sweetie is the handy one. Even she can't get my watch together. Problem! So, my watch sits on the table for a month. The back is off, new battery laying there. Problem! On Presidents' Day, I admit defeat. "Let's go to the store. I'll buy another watch. Maybe they got a sale for Presidents' Day?" We go to the store. There are Timex watches. Great! That's what I'm looking for! 85 bucks?! 90 bucks?! I thought Timex watches were cheap. Nope! Problem! I start looking at the other watches. There's a sign----CLEARANCE. CLEARANCE is almost as good as FREE. Here's a watch for seven dollars and fifty cents, Now you're talking! I buy the $7.50 watch and I'm happy. The band's too loose. I can live with that. Except, except, me buying this watch inspires my Sweetie to have another go at the Timex. Using a piece of wood as a press, she manages to get the battery in and the watch back on. I have my Timex back! Thank you, Sweetie! She wins the Handy Award! But I'm good at breaking things. Anyway, now I have My Two Watches, My Two Watches-one on each wrist. My Two Watches remind me of my two time zones. NOW and NEVER. When do I want what I want? NOW. When do I want what I don't want? NEVER. When would I like to find a twenty dollar bill, laying on the ground. NOW. When would I like to pay twenty dollars to buy two gallons of gas? NEVER. I have My Two Watches to remind me of my two time zones, NOW and NEVER. Our Gospel reading for this Sunday is about God's time zone. God's time zone is READY. In this week's Gospel reading, Jesus says God is like a host who makes a feast READY. I hurry through the day chasing after my NOW, I want NOW. I hurry through my day running away from NEVER. Let me try to run from what I fear, so it happens NEVER. God waits for me to be READY. As I hurry and avoid, God waits for me to be READY. For today, when I look at either of My Two Watches, I will try to remember God's time zone. READY. God is waiting for me to be READY. READY to slow down, and not be so driven by my fear of failure. God is waiting for me to be READY. READY to let go of some of my fear and go ahead with what I would rather avoid. For today, when I look at My Two Watches, I will try to remember that God is asking me, "Are you READY?"