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Friday, March 22, 2013
Engaging the Important Events of Life

Years ago I read an amazing article from Charles Hummel titled, "The Tyranny of the Urgent".  The article was well-written and helped me understand some things about my own time management.

This blog is written specifically for the student who is juggling a busy life.  Whether you are a student living on campus or if you are an online student with family responsibilities, we all have to choose our priorities.

I was an online student at one time and I remember the challenges of just balancing life.  This included:

  • School work
  • A full-time job
  • Time with my wife and children
  • Sunday school preparation
  • Birthday parties
  • Vacations and holidays with family
  • and so much more

The ongoing question is this: How do we create a balance in our life when we are so busy?

We read in Mark 1:35, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed."

I am intrigued by Jesus' intentionality to get away and pray.  I'm also intrigued that He made a deliberate decision to not spend all of his time with people.  Sometimes, we have to make a decision to do what is most important.

Here's some advice.

Determine what is truly important in your life and do those things.  These important life events may include:

  1. Time with family
  2. Your personal Bible reading time or devotions
  3. Time in prayer
  4. Date night with your spouse
  5. Play time / game night with your family
  6. Study time for your classes
  7. Church attendance (with your family)

Do not feel obligated to do the urgent things.  "No" is a good option.  Here are some examples:

  1. "No, I cannot help you tomorrow morning because I am spending that time with my kids."
  2. "No, I have dedicated that time to my spouse."
  3. "I'm sorry, I cannot do that.  I have an important meeting in my driveway with my children and a basketball during that time."
  4. "I cannot do that next Friday at 6:00 p.m. as that is when my family sits down for supper together."
  5. "No, that will not work.  I am studying for a class and cannot interrupt that time."

You get the point.

Be sure to be intentional and engage in the important events of life.

God bless.

Ted Whitney


 
Posted at 8:29 AM | Comments (1)