Time Confusion Begins

Daylight Savings Time is, by definition, a man-made creation and thus optional to observe. Not only do some places not observe DST, when they do, they may not change their clocks on the same day as other places. And then there are those communities who elect to not change their clocks at all even though others in their country choose to do so. Before you slam the Tzeltal villages for being backward and unwilling to follow the rest of Mexico, remember that Arizona and Hawaii don't observe DST either.

So we have the dilemma of "does this community change or not change?" AND on this day, the day that is SUPPOSEDLY the day Mexico begins observing DST, "does everyone know that today is the day to change?" Even our technology is inconsistent. Our computer clocks changed automatically, but our cell phone clocks did not! In this present-oriented culture, no one thought far enough ahead last week to think about it and mention it at worship, and there are no bold headlines or flashes across the bottom of television screens reminding us. So on this the first Sunday morning of DST in Mexico, we have no idea what time to show up for church!

If we assume everyone changed and they didn't, we'll be late for church (because it will have started the hour before). Last fall, when we assumed that everyone changed (and they didn't) we got to church an hour early. Today we'll err on the side of caution and assume that the worst that can happen is that we'll be there in time for Sunday School if they did change, but if not, at least we'll make it for worship.

Unfortunately, the dilemma will continue all summer long. With each visit to a new community for an activity at a stated time, we run the risk -- over and over -- of arriving an hour early or an hour late for any activity. The only saving grace is that, in this present-oriented culture, everyone in the community will respond and adjust accordingly.

So it is, today, April 6th, in southern Mexico and if truth be known, I feel like I have no idea at all what time it is!