Life Has Accelerated
I hear this from many people I encounter each day. Time is going by more quickly than ever before. Days are crammed with a zillion tasks. A man tries to juggle 2 jobs and single parenting. A woman tries to complete errands before work and on her lunch hour, in order to have evenings and weekends for her family. What about quality time for extended family. and friends, and pets, where and how does it all fit?
Does this sound familiar? Do things feel like they are spinning out of control? Is there a way off the merry-go-round? Yes.
No one knows the structure of your own daily life better than you do, so I can't presume to advise you on time management, although there are many good books out there on the topic.
Instead I would direct you to The Book, and some reflections on living a devotional life, regardless of how busy it becomes. After all, you are in charge of that schedule, that list of tasks, so maybe it's time to kick some to the curb, delegate others, ask for help, and just downsize the busy-ness.
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16). Here., we could perceive "evil" as that which distracts us from devotion to God. Pave your way, each day, by arising 15 minutes earlier and using that time for Bible study or prayer.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Knowing this in our hearts, how could we ever manufacture false anxiety over anything not accomplished "on time"? Have you ever had a delay, that later, proved to be more beneficial? I can recall a time or two, when a delay was actually a blessing in disguise. With faith, we embrace the unfolding of our days, knowing that the good Lord has our back.
Faith is cultivated, just like exercising muscles. So is being present – have you noticed that most anxieties are about future things that have not even happened yet, and most sadness is about things that are in the past? Be Here Now, is good advice. In this moment, God is with you, are you with Him?
"And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made". (Genesis 2:2). Yes, there are still meals to be made, and preparations for the work week to come, and, if you intend it, devotional time can be set aside, not only for church services, but also for personal reflection. I often use this time, which I intentionally set aside, to marvel with appreciation and gratitude, at all the blessings in my life.
A simple time management exercise, is to write down what you do and the time you are doing it, all day long, for a week. A pattern will show up. Your personal pattern. Then you evaluate, and choose some small beneficial changes: Could I go over the bills 1 hour later in the evening after the kids are asleep, and spend some evening time with them? If I reduced my television time by half an hour, and took a brisk evening walk, or phoned one family member, wouldn't that feel better? If I cut back on the things I think "relax me", like video games and social media, I would have a bit - it needn't be much - of extra time to devote to prayer, or to “live”, pleasant interactions with my family and pets, or some hobby.
And finally, in the midst of all the hectic rush of our days, our workplaces, our momentary encounters with grocery store clerks, our driving behaviors, everything – treat this as your ministry. Bring a little kindness for yourself and others, into the equation. Do your best to live God’s Word and go through each moment as His child, for “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” (Luke 6:31).
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