Time Enough At Last
I wish we could give the gift of time like we give gift cards. For instance, when someone gives you cash it’s easy to feel you have to be responsible and put it toward bills or other necessities, but when you get a gift card to your favorite store it’s simply an excuse to splurge without having to consider a more practical use for the money.
Likewise, it would be nice to be given blocks of time with a specific allowance to use for the pleasures of life, like “two hours to read” or “four hours to paint.” Because for me it isn’t enough to have free time, but it’s having guilt-free time off that is hard to justify as it seems there’s always something more productive and responsible you could be doing with your time.
And yet, I believe it is important to take time to do something relaxing and enjoyable, even if only to reflect on everything we’ve been doing and also to rejuvenate our spirit so that we don’t burn out. I know for me it is utterly essential. And though we have been given the gift of Sabbath so that we always take at least one day of rest, sometimes we’re so busy that all we have the energy left to do is to crash.
So yeah, I’m going to try and be more purposeful in carving out time for specific activities and not being overly hard on myself for it. I think we all need permission to play. Perhaps there are some who spend too much time playing, but for those who are struggling with over-commitment, it’s important to evaluate our motives and ask ourselves what God is actually asking of us and what we are taking upon ourselves. And we must do so in spite of the fear that we will appear lazy or too leisurely to those around us. Chances are, those who compete to seem most busy wish they had more time to unwind too.
Just make sure when you do allow yourself a bit of time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, such as reading, that you don’t step on your glasses.
“I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
