What would you do if you had all the time in the world?
In the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" James falls in love with the beautiful Tracy di Vicenzo. During the action-filled story, they dream of a time when they are not being chased all over Europe by the evil Blofeld. "We have all the time in the world," says Tracy, the only woman ever to marry James Bond.
James and his wife live happily for a time, with no thoughts about the past. The only tears at the wedding are those of Miss Moneypenny, and Mr. and Mrs. Bond look forward to living a life together as if they truly did have all the time in the world.
Time is such an issue for so many of us today. Schedules are overflowing with jobs, children, chores. Rollover your 401K now!, pick up the phone and call today!, don't let another minute go by!; our ears are constantly barraged with so-called urgency imposed upon us by others.
What about the urgency we place upon ourselves? Have you ever uttered the following: "I know it's late, but they're depending on me, I have to make the brownies right now." Or, "Billy really wants to take swimming lessons, I think we can squeeze in one more thing. He's only got three extra-curricular activities." Or how about the insidious, "If I don't do this, it won't get done."?
(Generally translated, "...it won't get done my way.").
Now I am not suggesting that you break promises or shirk responsibilities. If we say we'll bring the brownies, then we should be men and women of integrity and bring them. But do they have to be homemade when the only chance you'll have to bake is at 10:00 p.m.? Can Billy drop Tae-Kwan-Do for the summer in exchange for swimming? Can you learn to look the other way and let your spouse fold the laundry, even if it's wrong? (gasp!)
In "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", Stephen R. Covey talks about ways to re-prioritize our time by analyzing each task and assigning it a category. Doing some thoughtful planning can help us manage the frantic quality of post-modern life.
When I first started doing this, I noticed two things:
1. It really helped free up some time, and
2. The people whose action items ended up in the bottom category hated my new system!
I am still working on my journey of time-management, but I have found that making some changes in this area has freed me up to do the things I am called to do: spend more time with family, have a better career-life balance and work at staying healthy.
Of course, we do not have all the time in the world. Our life-journey is finite and there are things that must fill some of that time. But just for a moment, allow yourself to think about this week's question. What is your time desire? Would you take a year and backpack Asia? Would you spend more time archiving your family history? Is mission work a passion? Try and think about big-picture dreams.
Then, because time is a concern, think about how you might whittle an hour into your week for your time-desire or something similar that would feed your passion in this area. Is there a class you can take? Maybe it's something you can translate into a family activity. Perhaps a family member or friend has a time-desire you can both share. If your time-desire involves travel, is there something local you can do, such as visit a restaurant from a part of the world you enjoy?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." What seems time-prohibitive may merely be so right now, in this season of your life. But that does not mean it will always be.
What would you do if you had all the time in the world?
James and his wife live happily for a time, with no thoughts about the past. The only tears at the wedding are those of Miss Moneypenny, and Mr. and Mrs. Bond look forward to living a life together as if they truly did have all the time in the world.
Time is such an issue for so many of us today. Schedules are overflowing with jobs, children, chores. Rollover your 401K now!, pick up the phone and call today!, don't let another minute go by!; our ears are constantly barraged with so-called urgency imposed upon us by others.
What about the urgency we place upon ourselves? Have you ever uttered the following: "I know it's late, but they're depending on me, I have to make the brownies right now." Or, "Billy really wants to take swimming lessons, I think we can squeeze in one more thing. He's only got three extra-curricular activities." Or how about the insidious, "If I don't do this, it won't get done."?
(Generally translated, "...it won't get done my way.").
Now I am not suggesting that you break promises or shirk responsibilities. If we say we'll bring the brownies, then we should be men and women of integrity and bring them. But do they have to be homemade when the only chance you'll have to bake is at 10:00 p.m.? Can Billy drop Tae-Kwan-Do for the summer in exchange for swimming? Can you learn to look the other way and let your spouse fold the laundry, even if it's wrong? (gasp!)
In "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People", Stephen R. Covey talks about ways to re-prioritize our time by analyzing each task and assigning it a category. Doing some thoughtful planning can help us manage the frantic quality of post-modern life.
When I first started doing this, I noticed two things:
1. It really helped free up some time, and
2. The people whose action items ended up in the bottom category hated my new system!
I am still working on my journey of time-management, but I have found that making some changes in this area has freed me up to do the things I am called to do: spend more time with family, have a better career-life balance and work at staying healthy.
Of course, we do not have all the time in the world. Our life-journey is finite and there are things that must fill some of that time. But just for a moment, allow yourself to think about this week's question. What is your time desire? Would you take a year and backpack Asia? Would you spend more time archiving your family history? Is mission work a passion? Try and think about big-picture dreams.
Then, because time is a concern, think about how you might whittle an hour into your week for your time-desire or something similar that would feed your passion in this area. Is there a class you can take? Maybe it's something you can translate into a family activity. Perhaps a family member or friend has a time-desire you can both share. If your time-desire involves travel, is there something local you can do, such as visit a restaurant from a part of the world you enjoy?
Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." What seems time-prohibitive may merely be so right now, in this season of your life. But that does not mean it will always be.
What would you do if you had all the time in the world?
Smiles and Blessings,
Sharon
Sharon
1 comment:
I'd finish your wedding present! You guys have been married how many years now?
Really, if I had all the time in the world, I'd finish all my unfinished old projects, then I'd complete the ones I've stored in my head for years, then I'd begin new ones for all the grandkids I hope to have someday. Quilts, of course! By HAND, not one of those amazing quilting machines, as all they're for is saving time, and when you have unlimited time there's no need to save it!
I'd also memorize every opera I've ever wanted to do, so as to be prepared for every audition for every show I'd ever want to be in. Plus I'd re-set all of Schubert's and Schumann's music in the keys that fit *my* voice best, and Mozart's too (especially "An die Musick", "Frauen liebe und leben", and "Exsultate Jubilate", respectively.
Of course, I'd take the time to get the training I need to feel qualified to teach music, and I'd attend seminary just because I want to.
Then I'd write my memoirs, historic novels based on my grand-parents' and parents' lives, poems, devotions, love letters to my children, funny stories about my pets for my grandchildren, and just anything else that comes to mind.
When I'd got all that squared away, I'd learn to dance. First ballet. Then Irish step dancing. Then I'd learn Welsh, so I can speak to my ancestors when I get to Heaven (well, I guess it won't be necessary, as we'll all be speaking in tongues, or the Heavenly tongue, or whatever they do up there). Then I'd learn to make lace, so I could create gorgeous tablecloths for each child and grandchild, and maybe sell them and donate the proceeds to my favorite charity - me! (OK, that last one's just slightly silly).
Of course, I'm assuming here I also have unlimited money, right?
When I think of what I could do if time were limitless, my ideas seem limitless. It's a good thing my time is limited, and it's a good thing my ideas are limited by a Holy Planner.
Now, if only I had the time to figure out what the limits are.....
Thanks for this inspiring thought, Sharon. May your time seem limitless as you spend it with your family.
Blessings,
Patty
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