Lost time

If, for an instant, you could reflect on the loss of time, but reflect very seriously and calculate the immense error you commit, you would see how much this hour, this minute uselessly elapsed which you cannot recover, could be necessary to your future good. Not all the powers of the Earth could give it back to you. And if you used it badly, one day you will be obliged to repair it by expiation, and, perhaps, in a terrible manner! What would you not give, then, to recover the lost time! Useless wishes; superfluous regrets! Thus, think well on this, for the benefit of your future interest and, even your present one, because often the regrets reach us even on Earth. When God asks you to account for the existence he granted you, for the mission you had to fulfill, what will you answer? You will be like the envoy of a sovereign who, far from carrying out the orders of his master, spent his time amusing himself, not occupying himself at all with the business for which he was credentialed. Into what responsibility would he not incur on his return? You are here the envoys of God and you will have to render account of your time, spent with your brothers. I commend this meditation to you. Massillon. n [1]

[cf. Massillon.]