All immortal things and immortality itself, all living things and life itself, all holy things and holiness itself, all good things and goodness itself, all blessings and blessedness itself, all being and being itself are manifestly works of God. Some things began to be in time for they have not always existed. Others did not begin to be in time, for goodness, blessedness, holiness, and immortality have always existed. Those things which began in time exist and are said to exist by participation in the things which did not begin in time. For God is the creator of all life, immortality, holiness, and goodness; and He transcends the being of all intelligible and describable things. (Saint Maximos the Confessor, Philokalia)

This man, this son of a mother and father, this student, this husband and father, this singer, reader, and writer... this self began in time; I will also end in time.

But I may transcend time by participation in what did not begin in time. When I participate in goodness, blessedness, and holiness I partake of immortality.

I am a creature of time and of God. I have been made for both time - which begins and ends - and for God who has no beginning nor ending.

There is grace in each domain. Beginnings are good. Endings are good. May I be watchful and wise to know the right time for each.

That which transcends time is also good. It is truly blessed to lose all sense of time. May I be open to being swept beyond time.