EDDIE MCFALLS
Reflections on Chapter 12 of Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders.
Time management is an enormous subject in both its importance and scope. Whether we admit it or not we are all up against the clock.
You may have noticed this but different personalities are drawn to various sports that cater to their personalities. For example, fans of basketball, football and soccer appreciate that barring any major injury or egregious penalties one can predict the time the game will end rather accurately. The game itself is marked off in segments of time – quarters and halves. Other sports don’t follow a rigid time format. Baseball is divided into innings, but an inning does not have set boundaries of time. An inning could possibly be over in three quick pitches and ground ball putouts, or it could be a protracted event. That applies to the top or bottom of any inning. I am informed by fans and players of cricket that games can last for days. (I must insert that we haven’t time to linger here with further explanations.)
Dr. Sanders offers some insights of his own that are worth pondering while scattering through this chapter some keen perceptions of others. I find it interesting in his mention of a notable man who arrived at a method of dealing with interruptions by seeing them as godsends in his day. Yet, other men, John Wesley and F.B. Meyer are cited, divided their day into five-minute increments and scrutinized each slice of the day for accomplishment. It would seem they planned the work and worked the plan with dogged diligence. Is that what they call micromanagement? I’m just asking for a friend.
I guess what I’d like to submit is that no one time management system will work for every person. That certainly doesn’t advocate for throwing the concept of time management out. Doing the best things possible with the given moments we have is crucial.
Perhaps that is at least part of the motive behind the prayer of Moses, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) I imagine any thoughtful person would agree we all could learn from The Eternal One lessons regarding time.
I would suggest that we examine a variety of processes and plans to hone in on the method that sharpens our minds and provides opportunities to accomplish worthwhile projects. Try the technique. If it works for you, employ it. Just be aware it may not be the most advantageous path for those around you. Is that why Moses is asking the controller of every tick and tock of the clock to “Teach us …”?
In a society inundated with time saving devices and procedures we often groan that we just don’t have enough time. Is anyone, like me, wondering where all the time we are saving is going?
As with every other dilemma that we face the answer flows from The Giver of time. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Teach – learning takes time and adjustment.
Number – having to do with accountability.
We – yes, it is us who are in need.
Gain – God has things to add to us.
Wisdom – heaven’s perspective.
Moses was really on to something.
