THERE NEVER SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH TIME

 

 

As a young career woman, I was given many opportunities to present time management seminars in school districts and dental practices. “Managing time” appears as a straightforward and even simple concept in theory; however, it is paradoxically an enigma revealing the complexities of life. How do you actually “manage” time—this precious gift?  In The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People which was on the New York Times bestseller list for 200 weeks, a part of the training was focused on having a paradigm shift and putting first things first using “true north” principles. As a licensed facilitator, I began reflecting on these principles from an eternal perspective and digging in to the scriptures. This actually led me to desire change based on truth from the Word of God.  

One analogy which encouraged me to focus on an eternal perspective is to imagine myself at my 90th birthday party or to write what my own obituary might say. What would be the "words of truth" that others would convey about my life.

Keeping this eternal perspective brings innumerable blessings…and encourages me to be a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to me--especially the gift of TIME!

Realizing that we all have a limited amount of time on this earth--making every hour count, understanding that once time is used, you can never get it back to love, serve, give, forgive, and share-- changes one's paradigm to an eternal perspective!  

Each week that we are given the gift of time, there are 168 hours in the week. Mathematically this looks something like:

       168 – 56 (hours of sleep/8 hours per night) = 112

       112 – 10 (hours for personal hygiene/shower, etc.) = 102

       102 – 15 (hours for food preparation/eating/dining) = 87

       87 – 50 (40 hour work week plus commute--this is more for "stay at home moms raising children") = 37

       37 – 10 (planning and transition time) = 27

The balance of finite earthly time each week would be estimated to be between 20 – 30 hours (although it is probably less due to unexpected events/circumstances).

Scheduling what is important from an eternal perspective and deducting those hours from 168 (hours in a week) gives a visual representation of what and how we spend our time. This means scheduling the important things FIRST--God, family, important relationships--to avoid becoming enslaved to the “tyranny of the urgent.”

Asking this question, "what IS IMPORTANT?" and consciously recording what is important in my life has a powerful impact on how I choose to use the time that God has and is giving me. Making a prayerful, conscious choice to love the Lord and serve from an eternal perspective “makes ALL the difference!” And, it has ETERNAL REWARDS!!!!

“And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”  Matthew 22: 35-39 (ESV)

 

 

Copyright 2013 Dr. Donna Earl Bridges