TIME OR WANT TO?

This past weekend I logged onto our church's website and looked at my blog space. I couldn't believe it had been four months since I had posted something. It is not that I don't enjoy writing, I do. As I matter of fact I have always dreamed of writing a novel and hopefully more than one. Some people who know my dream ask why I haven't done so. The answer is simple: TIME . I know everyone has the same number of minutes in a day to work with so I have concluded I am lousy at time management.

It seems I used to have more time especially for personal things. For instance a passion of mine for many years was to bow hunt for deer. I would spend several hours before season came in scouting different areas and hanging tree stands. I would then hunt at least one day a week and often times more, hunting my day off and then trying to get in one or two evenings as well. This was always great mental and emotional respite for me. It gave me time to think with no phone ringing in my ear or being interrupted by an unexpected visitor. I have bow hunted less than twenty times in the past seven seasons. The problem: TIME.

As I become older I am more and more time conscious. For instance I am keenly aware that what I hope to accomplish for God in the remaining years of my life and ministry is being cramped more and more by time. The things my wife and I have talked about doing together such as revisiting the Adirondack mountains in western New York or taking a long trip to Alaska are getting squeezed more and more by time.

For all my life time has been a more precious commodity to me than money. As long as I have enough money to pay my bills I am content. But time is another matter altogether. If I only had time I could be with those I love more, I could read more, fish and hunt more and yes, even write more.

I will soon be 56 years old. My father died at the age of 72. Four of his siblings never reached 70. Two died after passing 70 and two are still living well past that age. Statistically speaking one would conclude I won't live to be 80. I do not fear that nor do I dread that. I am ready to go. But there are things I hope to do before I leave this world. People I hope to impact for Christ. Life long lessons I hope to impress upon my children and grandchildren. But all of that requires time.

Erzie Lavender used to say, "Brother Rob, people are going to do what they want to do when they want to do it." With that thought in mind maybe time is not my problem after all. Maybe it is my "want to". Maybe time is only a convenient excuse for me and my actions.If Erzie is correct I don't need more minutes in the day. What I need is more "want to" in my heart and spirit!!!

Perhaps that is why you are not accomplishing the things in life you want to do. It may not have anything to do with time, money or opportunity. Rather your "want to" might not be in the right place. Before time does run out search yourself and ask the hard question, "What is my real "want to" in life and then get on with making that "want to" a reality.

Just something to think about.

Pastor Jordan