Ever notice
that the more guardedly we hoard our time the quicker it seems
to take flight? Interruptions give cause for anger, irritation,
and the like. The stingier we become with our hours, minutes
and seconds, the further behind we get. It's basic life truism,
whatever is grasped is eventually rendered ineffective, unsatisfying,
or altogether destroyed. While responsibilities loom large,
deadlines threaten, and the workload seems to increase exponentially
with each tick of the clock, the urgency of the day gives
way to ever-rising internal combustion. Likewise, this inmost
orientation of the mind also produces a scarcity of generosity
in spirit.
Study
those rare individuals who are generous with their time, "...their
worlds are more varied, surprising, colorful, fruitful. They're
richer. More abounds with them, and yet they have a greater
thirst and deeper capacity to take it all in." Conversely,
those whose vision of what is "time-worthy" is only
as encompassing as the next item on their agenda eventually
find themselves trapped in an ever-shrinking, despoiled environment.
For these skinflint-ish (often productive, but frequently
purposeless) souls there is never enough to go around, of
time or anything else for that matter, and they pay for the
hoarding dearly. In this self-imposed prison of spirit, life
erodes into an endless pattern of musts, have tos, and imperatives
that never allows for the luxury of interruptions. Rigidity
takes precedence over paying attention and in paying attention
to those around us, their needs, wants, and cares, we quantify
ourselves as people who see the value of interruption as the
vehicle to some of life's most fulfilling surprises. Writes
Mark Buchanan, "Think for a moment of all the events
and encounters that have shaped you most deeply and lastingly.
How many did you see coming? How many did you engineer, manufacture,
chase down? And how many were interruptions?"
It is
in the recognition that a day seldom passes whereby our schedules
are not overridden by someone else's needs, demands, or desires,
that we discover what side of the time-punch we will position
ourselves. Our task then (if our goal is to become the most
efficacious of time stewards), becomes one of embracing a
spirit generous with flexibility, offset with an extra measure
of graciousness of heart. It's one of life's ironies, "...those
who treat time as a gift and not possession - have time in
abundance."
- Spend time today squandering it for the sake of others.
- Lend your attention to someone in need of a listening
ear.
- Take some moments to be curious about the express interests
of another person.
- Anticipate interruptions and determine to greet them
as opportunities to expand in knowledge and life experience.
- Focus on the larger scope of life by enlarging former
perceptions of what qualifies as time-worthy.
- Give precedence to the people around you, and demonstrate
this by refusing to give in to impatient distraction.
About
the Author:
Michele Howe
is a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly, FaithfulReader.com,
Aspiring Retail and has published over 900 articles/reviews.
She works as a manuscript critique editor for the Christian
Communicator and writes on women's health issues for the Toledo
Free Press, Monroe Journal, CBN.com, SingleMom.com, ParentSuperSite.com,
CatholicMom.com, and Radiant among other publications. Howe
has also published eight books for women including: Going
It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom ,
Prayers
for Homeschool Moms,
Prayers
for New and Expecting Moms,
Prayers
of Comfort and Strength,
Prayers
to Nourish a Woman's Heart,
Successful
Single Moms,
and Pilgrim
Prayers for Single Mothers. |
