How much free time do you have today?
“Not as much as I need,” might be your quip reply.
It’s true, when we look at our day and all that we want to accomplish, it can feel like there just isn’t any time left for anything that isn’t essential. We probably don’t have spare hours each day to open the Scriptures and study God’s word.
But I invite you to think about down time. Everyone has a little down time.
When I used to work in a factory downtime meant the time that I spent staring at the machine as it did its thing and I waited until it finished so I could do my thing. When I look at my life now it has become the time spent alone in a car (or bus) on a long commute to work or school, the 15 minutes I arrive early to an appointment with the doctor/dentist/whatever, or the minutes waiting in line at a busy coffee shop.
How do we understand this time? What are our attitudes towards this ‘down time’ in our day, when we are forced to do nothing overtly productive?
Is it a necessary evil, a burden getting in the way of what we’re supposed to be doing?
Is it a chance to write a text and add to the frantic pace, or find some way to be entertained?
What if that down time is actually a gift?
A gift to those of us who have forgotten to schedule peace, reflection, prayer and waiting into our days to do list.
What if that down time is actually a gift?
A gift to those of us who have forgotten to schedule peace, reflection, prayer and waiting into our days to do list.
The apostle Paul speaks of this in his letters using the phrase, ‘make the most of every opportunity.’
1414for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: ”Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:14b-16
“5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity” Colossians 4:5
In these passages I hear an encouragement to use every chance we get to see God’s Kingdom come in our lives.
I hear the call to take advantage of downtime.
If we have some extra time in the car, make the most of it, by downloading some podcasts from challenging and gifted preachers. If we have a long wait for coffee, make the most of it by praying for others. If we have 10 or 15 minutes before an appointment, make the most of it by pulling out a book that builds you up in the faith. Make the most of every opportunity, redeem the down time in your life.
Discussion
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