Like Sands Through the Hour Glass...

Everyone I've slowed down long enough to talk to recently has the same story...busy, busy, busy-ness...those are the days of our lives. Lately it's like my office has been fitted with a revolving door and people are putting it to good use, usually with hard questions of the variety that should perhaps be answered once a day, not minute-by-minute. And then there's the house and the family and the bills and the ringing phone and the promises I've made to help, to do, to be there at that time. I see you nodding. You know exactly what I'm talking about. And if you're like me, it's all good stuff, necessary stuff, something you want to do or know you need to do, so you just do it.

And you and I, we can get it done because that's who we are. We might not do it all as well or as cheerfully as we could, but we get it done. In my case, the first thing that suffers is my normally sweet temperament (the people who work with me are snorting at that statement. Read whatever you like into that.) and it has been scientifically proven that you are three times more likely to get a short answer when I am overwhelmed (probably true except for the "scientifically proven" part). Unfortunately, quite often the next thing to go is my quiet time. The time I spend learning and listening can become half-hearted and inconsistent and if there's one thing I know about me, it's that I need time alone to recharge. Jesus knew that too.

Luke 5:15-16 says this about Jesus: "Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." Jesus was someone who knew about tight schedules and being in demand. His work was immeasurably more important than what I twist myself into knots every day to accomplish but the most important piece of that work was Jesus, not his actions or his appearances or list of accomplishments. To be who he needed to be, Jesus spent time alone.

If you are one of those who have learned this lesson already and defend your quiet time against all time thieves, good for you. If you've never tried a regular quiet time or if you're like me and you need to move it back to the top of the list, the good news is that now's a great time for fresh starts. I should know. It seems like I have fresh starts for a variety of good ideas right about now every year.

Here's how I normally do quiet time: I first draw out a complicated schedule, build an ambitious plan to carve out time from the day, follow a seven-part outline for about two weeks, and then start to falter because it's too hard. Don't do what I do. Here's what I know: spending time alone with God was never meant to be a burden. This time around, I think I'll commit to a time, meet God consistently there, read His word, think and talk with Him about it, and maybe write down what sticks with me. Doesn't that sound easier? I'm pretty sure the time will contribute to an improvement in my attitude as well (and the co-workers rejoice!).

Cheryl

P.S. If you have questions about setting up your own quiet time, contact us at marketplaceconnection@comcast.net.