Last night I dreamt that time itself awoke from an eternal dream and realized it was alive. Then that wonderful being made it crystal clear to me that it thinks and feels deeply. And now I know that it is wise beyond measure. Last night’s fantasy showed me a thing or two about reality. First, I learned how time peoples itself with impressionable spirits. And these souls acquire its talents for shaping history. But most never acknowledge the time as essential to their thrust. So, Time gets even. It revokes these spirits and locates other vessels suitable to the tasks.

So, others come along with similar potential. Even so, it is only human that few recognize the diligence of time as key to their talents. But their thoughts and actions are informed by circumstances preceding and concomitant with the growth and capacity of their characters. In short, they are obviously the seeds of time. And the ever-turning hour at hand determines what if any effect each will have on our world. So, time must be better understood by those of us bound by its laws.

First, nothing is absolute. Specifically with respect to a soul. A benevolent soul is simply a transitory being because time is always unfolding. This applies to the ill-tempered spirit as well. This means that during its evolution one will spend time as its antithesis in some fashion or another. So, the Time Being explained that I could not dismiss the incorrigible as irredeemable nor the lofty as beyond reproach. One needs not entertain these contrasts as much as they should acknowledge the seasons in which they appear. In due time each will be given an opportunity to champion its agenda. And they will battle until one or the other secures the empathy of the rest of the world. Ineffectual impressions and prejudices are for those who in turn think that time is a spectator sport.

Even as I dreamt, I did my best to think in step with everything Time was telling me. As if to be awake and asleep all at once. But I wasn’t allowed to play both sides of the field. As soon as I thought I had grasped some major point, the dream became more ephemeral. And so, I found that if I didn’t struggle against it, the vision would clarify itself as it played out. I sank into a deeper slumber. I was immersed in the absence of darkness.

To my surprise, The Time Being appeared in these surroundings in its birthday suit! Its nuts were as big as two planets. Its shameless smile as warm as the sun. It had infinite layers of skin, each so delicate they were barely perceptible. Each was like the film that forms on the surface of hot chocolate. One delicate layer was superimposed over the next until Time’s “body” filled all the space I was able to perceive.

Furthermore, its flesh is elastic. Like an accordion, time moves itself inward and outward making a remarkable melody as it does. From the humblest to the greatest, all souls coming and going through the flesh of Time are harmonized in this scheme. Each affects the other until the music stops. But it never does. Only the skin recoils to its seedling layer and another song begins to grow in the heart of the Time Being.

Having been shown its remarkable form, I recognized something about time. Each of the countless souls in its one body is dutybound to build on the attributes of its neighboring soul. Whether good or bad. Since we can’t ensure that our neighbors will be good, nor avoid them if they’re bad, we must be wise enough to positively inform their behavior in the time granted us. So that the song of time might continue. In this way, promise and compassion have a chance. Beauty and harmony might prevail.

I woke up. What a strange dream! Happily, I gazed about my surroundings. I knew now that the Time Being is everywhere all at once. That is to say it is nowhere in particular. So, there is ample room to spread our wings. Those who make the most of time are those who best understand its tendencies and potential. Thus empowered, they begin with selfless, optimistic gestures which don’t demand too much of their time. Once committed in this manner they graduate to the mastery of time on a grander scale. They influence persons and events like a gentle breeze moves a tree’s leaves. Something as simple as taking the time to show your loved ones how you feel about them can set that in motion.

The people who lose out are those oblivious to the subtle building blocks of the time being. Those of us always dreaming of what life will be like when in the future we find the perfect love. Or how we will change the world when in the future we become successful. With these ideas we catapult those ideal circumstances further away from us because we are neglectful of the time being. This is a sure way of getting lost.

Thankfully, there is always the opportunity to make up for lost time. New inspiration, motivation, enthusiasm, and vision are encoded in the Time Being. Appreciate the harmony of its song and the part you play. Hit all the high notes. Do not neglect your duty to our fellow spirits. The time for dreaming will run its course. There will come a time to awaken and seize the full bounty of the time at hand.

Portions of this post invite your personal interpretation as The Time Being is an analogy for perception.

If you’re not having such a good time in your life right now, you can always talk to someone about it by calling The Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787. Or if you feel like a danger to yourself, call 988.