It’s Time – Day 34

Many of us function by living according to a schedule.  There is a time to get up, a time to be at work, a time to eat meals, a time to show up for a meeting.  There is a time for everything.   Now some do not worry so much about time.  But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a schedule.  There are slots in our day we reserve for most everything.  

I think what we miss is to schedule time for the most important parts of our lives.  We have demands on our time.  We have places we need to be.  There are appointments to make and keep up with.  But what about making time for those most important to us?  What about scheduling in time for those we care deeply for and deserve more of our time than anything else?  

Most of us believe we will just naturally be with those we care about.  It will just happen organically.  The problem is, everything else in our schedule eats up the slots we could have reserved for those most important.  We allow our schedules to be full without managing it to ensure we don’t miss the important things.

Maybe we start by reevaluating this.  What or who is most important in our lives?  Do we schedule time for our spouse and children?  Do we schedule time to take care of ourselves so we are a better person for those around?  Do we schedule time with God, our Creator and Redeemer?

In Christianity (and other religions as well), there is this idea of offices.  These are times throughout the day when people stop, worship and pray.  These are built into the day.  I most noticed this rhythm when I spent time at a monastery.  Regardless of the work that had to be done or the appointment which needed to be scheduled, the offices were set first.  They were a given in the day.  These were built in so all could make sure to spend time with the most important – God. 

Most of us won’t follow the idea of offices in our day.  But what if we started with just a slot, just an appointment to spend time with God?  What if we made God a priority in our lives?  We just might see everything else change.  Maybe time is valuable, especially when it is spent with God.