daylight saving

Mar 31, 2012

Tonight we put the clocks back an hour. It is the end of ‘summer-time’ in New Zealand.

It is really only in the twentieth century that ‘daylight saving’ was seen as necessary. You can read a little of the NZ history of daylight saving at this link.

Monks in monasteries have always practiced ‘daylight saving’ by going to bed when the sun sets, and rising with the sun. 

The invention of electricity changed our need to live in harmony with the rhythms of the earth. We can blur the distinction between night and day, and between the seasons of the year.  

People today don’t sleep as much as our ancestors. There is no positive side to this. Very few people get the sleep they need in order to function well.

It’s now 7.30pm and I have just celebrated the first Mass of Palm Sunday. 

The sun has set. I’m off to bed!



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