At least admit it–you chose it.
There are times in which the pastorate feels completely out of control. There is a set routine to a week—Sunday is always coming. Certain activities must take place whether it is a normal week or I’m sick or on vacation. In addition, the pastorate is often built around crisis ministry. You never know when someone might die, have an affair, or get arrested (and sometimes those three are related). There are moments in which I feel as though I have no control over my life.
But those moments are a lie. It’s a human deception and I’m not the only one who falls for it.
Have you ever noticed how many people talk about their schedules as though it is something happening to them? It’s like someone held a gun to their head, strapped them into a roller coaster and watched it take off.
There is no doubt that many of our lives feel like a roller coaster. There comes a point in which you have no choice but to simply hold on and hope you survive.
However, there is one important characteristic which most people forget—you chose to get on the roller coaster.
Some things in life we do not control. My kids have very little control over their schedules. For the most part I (and the State) choose that for them. While their control will grow, until they graduate high school, how they spend Monday through Friday from eight to three will not change.
Yet for the rest of us, we choose our schedule.
We live in a time and place where we get to choose where to work. While our boss might dictate our schedule, we get to choose our boss.
The State might demand certain amounts of education for our children, but we get to choose if we do that education or if they go to a school. And we choose (or give permission for) every second of their schedule outside of school.
We may have little say in how clubs, churches, and organizations schedule their activities, but we are completely in charge of whether or not we participate.
The fact is we choose our schedules.
And here is an important truth: If we choose it, we can change it. (See: Three Loves to Change Your Life)
Many of us live in denial of the control we have over our lives because we would rather play the role of the victim than have the responsibility of living a different life. We claim we don’t control it so we don’t feel bad when we don’t change it.
It’s nothing but denial.
The fact is we do control it. We choose the lives we live—nearly every second.
Don’t like your kids practice schedule? You chose to let them play.
Too many activities hurting your family time? You chose the activities.
Frustrated you never get to attend church? You choose what takes priority. (See: Three Lies Christians Tell Themselves)
Tired, weary, exhausted? You choose to sleep or not sleep, to rest or not to rest, to live a life with boundaries or without them.
Just want a vacation? You choose how you spend your days off, if you have enough to money to getaway, and if you will take a vacation.
We control how we spend our time. And if we are parents, we control how our family spends time.
Time management—life management—begins by admitting one simple truth—you chose this. Whatever your schedule is today, you chose it. While we often live in denial of that fact, it is tremendously good news.
If we choose it, we can change it. (See: You Won’t Change Until…)
What of your schedule needs to change? How will you make that change?
Would you want your kids to live the schedule your currently have? If not, then how are you modeling what they should do?
For more, see:
7 Responses to You Chose This: A Reflection on Time Management