Buffett Giving Pledge - Biological Time

Speech by Warren Buffett on Charity...

...More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death. Measured by dollars, this commitment is large. In a comparative sense, though, many individuals give more to others every day... this pledge does not leave me contributing the most precious asset, which is time. Many people, including -- I'm proud to say -- my three children, give extensively of their own time and talents to help others. Gifts of this kind often prove far more valuable than money. A struggling child, befriended and nurtured by a caring mentor, receives a gift whose value far exceeds what can be bestowed by a check...

This passage touches on the subject of biological time.  As any old/dying man can attest, what they most wish for was more time to spend with friends and loved ones (alternatively, the most common regret is likely not spending enough time with friends & family).  Biological time is the most special/precious of commodities we have - it comes only from God.  Unlike most other assets, biological time, once lost/sold, can never be repurchased (despite Juan Ponce de Leon's most ardent attempts).

However, like other commodities, time can sold/exchanged, much to our detriment.  In fact, many who are 'successful' in this world, often have made just such an exchange.  In lieu of spending time with/for others, they have devoted themselves to their crafts... whether that be sports, politics, business, religion, etc (time is the universally accepted currency).

Even those of us who are not at the 'top of the ladder', we have often made bad trades with our time... minutes spent reading pointless articles/tabloids/boxscores (or writing blogs), hours spent playing video games & watching tv, days spent in mindless cubicles with no sense of fulfillment, years spent not loving the people right next to us...


I am not trying to say that all success is bought at the price of time with family, nor that we are all mini-fiends forever scheming of ways to assassinate time (though I imply both).

However, that time (even in the non-physics-Einstein-relativity-light sense) is one of the most important tools/gifts at our disposal is something I believe wholeheartedly.  To those who give their time in the service of neighbors, I salute you!

Usury is the derivation of profit from biological time, which is linked to life, considered sacred, God-given and divine, leading to excessive worrying about money instead of God, thus subjugating a God-given sanctity of life to man-made artificial notions of material wealth