Kairos

Let me interrupt these fun holiday posts for just a second to talk about something that's been on my mind the past few days.
In our weekly Community Gathering on Thursday, the speaker talked about this word 'Kairos'. I don't believe I had ever heard of it before but it's an important concept that I wanted to share.

Kairos is a Greek word used many times in the Bible. It is one of the two Greek words to describe time. Most people know 'chronos' which is Greek for minutes and seconds time. Literal and straightforward passing of moments like on a clock (chronological time). Kairos, however, is very different. The Webster's dictionary definition of kairos is "right or opportune moment". In Greek, it is used to describe an opportunity, season or fitting time. Kairos is qualitative and not easily measured.

Here are some examples of Kairos in scripture:

• Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (kairos), because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
• Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time (kairos) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity (kairos), let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10
• And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time (kairos) as this? Esther 4:14

On his blog, Pastor J.R. Briggs puts it like this:

"Kairos is pregnant time, the time of possibility – moments in our day, our week, our month, our year or our lifetime that define us. It is a crossroads. It has the ripe opportunity to make you bitter or better. It is a teachable moment. It is the right or opportune moment. They are rarely neutral and always leave an impact on us."

So what does this have to do with Mercy Ships? I wish I could explain it better but I'm not that great with words. Basically, there are a lot of really big things happening with Mercy Ships right now. Most of them involve the building of a brand new ship specifically made for our purposes (instead of remodeled into a hospital like the current ship) and the capacity in the next few years to have 2 ships operating to reach many more people than currently possible! We also have a prime position in the future of global health because providing safe surgery is becoming a huge goal for many developing countries.

But of none of these things would be possible without God who shows Himself to us in so many miraculous ways each day! The right people, the right places, the right time...there's a million little stories of things that many would call "coincidences" but I would prefer to call them God's kairos moments.

I love how Briggs said in the above quote "pregnant time" because that feels so true. There's this sense of expectation all around. Like we've been waiting nine months for a baby to be born and the time is coming near. Every update on the new ship, media story or financial partner feels like one step closer to the kairos God has in store for Mercy Ships - and it's the coolest feeling to be a part of right now!

And it feels extra special during this season of Advent - waiting for the Christ child who came at a kairos time in history over 2000 years ago. The world did not know a baby would be the way to salvation. But God knew. Mary did not know that the little boy she carried would be crucified and resurrected to redeem a sinful world. But God knew. The shepherds did not know the infant they worshiped that glorious night would one day return to fulfill the longing and waiting of all these years. But God knew.

My prayer is that this Christmas season, as we look expectantly toward that baby and all that his birth represents, that we would trust God's kairos time. May we lay all our questions and fears and insecurities about the future down at that tiny manger and believe that He knows. And may we look for the kairos moments in our lives each day...moments that define us and leave an impact on the world around us.