Time Management

I confess that I am often impatient - it seems that there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to get done, much less everything that I need to get done. After all the time management seminars, the workshops about learning to prioritize - after the whole "Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" and so on - I still struggle to find the time for everything. Unfortunately sometimes the small things, which are actually important, get sacrificed for the bigger things, which turn out to be less important in the long run.

And no matter how well I manage my time, sometimes, circumstances (God?) create a situation in which I have no choice about my priorities. The other night, for example, my daughter was participating in a school program. She was disappointed that I could not be there. But I was the chaplain on call for the hospital and I received an emergency call just a brief time before her program. I had to go. I did the right thing, and yes, she understood, but it seems at times that there is just no way to truly manage my time. As much time as I spend creating to do lists, priorities, and scheduling my day, sometimes it just seems as though there is no way to truly manage my time.

Now my next statement is going to make all you "type A" personalities a bit nervous: perhaps there is no way to manage our time. Or, at least, perhaps we need to understand that there must be enough flexibility in our time management to allow room for God-moments - for God's time. This is perhaps one of the lessons of John's narrative in his gospel, in chapter 11:1-44.

Jesus lingers too long "in the place where he was" before responding to Martha's and Mary's call to come see to their sick brother, Lazarus. Now, of course, you are familiar with this narrative - by the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus is dead. One of the lessons that is difficult to hear, but that we probably need to hear is that God moves in God's time to accomplish His purposes. It doesn't mean that God is uncaring - Jesus wept over Lazarus after all; and even though he was about to raise him from the dead he still felt sadness and sympathy for those who mourned. Still it is the mystery of our God that His timing is sometimes beyond our comprehension - His purposes sometimes beyond our understanding. No matter how much we may attempt to master time, it remains unmasterable except by the master. I believe that the best we can do is to cultivate that deep and intimate connection with God in Jesus Christ, that can offer us guidance and direction in the midst of turbulence and triumph. While we may not grasp the timing and the plan that God has, we can strive for the intimacy with God that will lead us through. Martha's response to Jesus' question about faith is perhaps our best response to changing times and changing seasons of life - you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God and you are our savior, and most importantly Lord of our lives. May Christ reign in your heart and life today - His time management is the best there is!!