
What if you found out you were going to die in a few days, not a year, or a month, but a few days? How important would time management be to you then? I have to admit, I am a mediocre time manager. I try to squeeze every second out of a minute by wringing milliseconds the way some of us squeeze water out of a towel. I am forever chasing the clock, replacing what could be done with what needs to be done.
A few years ago, I was in a conversation with a young anesthesiologist I had recently met; he was a handsome man with an athletic build who appeared exquisitely healthy. I was surprised when he told me his age because he looked much younger than his actual age. When I complemented him on his athletic build, he responded that only a month ago, he was "this much," gesturing the measurement of an inch with his fingers, “from death.” As it turns out, his physician discovered one of those terminal diseases involving the brain stem whose name I cannot remember. As we talked about it, I could see the emotion welling in his eyes. “You know,” I said, “…you have to remember faith is more significant when it comes to healing than most people understand. And to be honest with you, sometimes physicians know way too much. It is quite possible that now is the time for you to increase your level of faith. —Faith changes everything!” “True,” was all he said, and he sped off. As I thought about our conversation later that evening, I came to the conclusion that we are all terminal; he simply had a clearer understanding of how soon his time may come to an end.
When we follow the life of Jesus, He knew His mortal life was terminal. He knew when, where, how, what, and why His life was to be given/ taken; so, He spent His days teaching, speaking, healing, and loving those around Him. He impacted their lives so deeply that they would later impact the lives of billions far into the future. Truthfully, we waste a lot of time on useless issues, not really spending quality time with those we really love, significantly impacting their lives with the kind of love that empowers them to impact others. Maybe spending time with the people we really care about, and doing the things that truly honor God to fulfill our purpose, is our true time management. If this is so, everything else becomes filler and can easily be eliminated. L.
Study Reference: Proverbs 27:1
From: "Time Management." In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living.
Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: shutterstock