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Excuse Me, But...

 

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"The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one's 'own', or 'real' life.  The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one's real life - the life God is sending one day by day." 

~ C.S. Lewis, Christian author & theologian


Balance.  It's such a buzz word.  And yet, without it we can run off the rails, lose our chi, burn out, spin out of control, burn the candle at both ends, go haywire.. get my meaning?  There's a reason there are so many phrases for the same thing.

Ever felt like we are at the end of our rope (haha one more)?  Like maybe for the 4th time this week and it's only Tuesday.  Whether you're a mom, part of the working force, a caregiver for parents or grandchildren, or all of the above - the "frazzled" button just pops on without notice.


Only the notice really is there; we just ignore it til it goes off like an alarm.

Kids are overscheduled, work doesn't let up, personal issues with loved ones rise up, traffic, sickness, unexpected visitors - everything requires our attention and effort.  How does one buy more time in our day to get all the things done we think we need to?  And if we are able, at what cost?



Or... is there another way to look at these real life interruptions....

As always, God's Word enlightens us because our gracious, loving Father knew we would need the guidance.


"For everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven;
a time to be born, and a time to die; 
a time to plant, and a time to harvest;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build up;
a time to cry, and a time to laugh;
a time to grieve, and a time to dance;
a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather stones;
a time to embrace, and a time to turn away;
a time to search and a time to quit searching;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to mend;
a time to be quiet and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

So, yes, we do have a thousand irons in the fire, and most times we wouldn't have it any other way with our family and lives.  However, when we have carved in our mind that we will accomplish this or that, in this or that amount of time - I believe it's called 'scheduling' - and something always interrupts,  it leads to frustration and exhaustion from being flustered by it all.

Help! This is not the abundant life we were hoping for that Jesus promised in John 10:10.


But what if we changed our perception of the gremlins that disrupt our beautifully planned day - we do what is in our control: put boundaries up where we ought, preserve our daily quiet time with the Lord, prioritize and plan, but then just looked at the happenings in our day as sent by God.  Instead of saying, "Arrrgh!" we say, "How should I engage in this?"  

Obviously not every interruption is for our good.  Again, God's Word helps us to draw healthy boundaries with our time ( which is a resource given to us by God)-


Let your reasonableness be known to everyone,  The Lord is at hand." 
Phil 4:5



Ask the Holy Spirit to help us be wise and discerning, to have the eyes and heart of God and to put peace in our soul; in other words be careful with our time and how we spend it-


"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 
Ps 90:12

"Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 
1 Pet 5:8

Maybe our responses to "Excuse me, but..." could possibly be like the Chick-Fil-A employees response - "It's my pleasure", because just possibly God wants us to be where He's working, "in order to fulfill His good pleasure."

✙ Dear Lord, we lay our "schedule" at Your feet, as well as our priorities and resources. Make us available for Your work, and help us to see where it is and how we can get involved in it.  Holy Spirit, change our hearts to match Yours.  Amen.



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