Be Late For Something

I hate being late. Always have. Generally, I'm a pretty laid-back person, not really given to stressing out. But
if I'm running behind, and it looks like I may arrive after my intended time, watch out! I get stressed. I get mad. I start rushing myself and others, and basically making life unpleasant until we finally get where we're going.

See, before I had kids, this really wasn't a problem. My wife and I both happen to be naturally punctual people, and both of us enjoy getting where we're going on time, or even early. So we always were. That simple. Now it's been nearly nine years since my first born came into this world, and we still can't figure out how to get everyone out of the house in time to get where we're going without stress, fights, and headaches.

Slowly, though -- oh, so slowly -- I'm learning instead something far more valuable. I'm learning that, in all that rushing around, in all that "hurry up hurry up hurry up," I'm denying myself the pure joy of simply experiencing my family. And, perhaps worse, I'm replacing their future memory of their Dear Old Dad with this worn, stressed, always rushing madman where once a laid-back, fun-loving guy used to be.

There are things worth being late for.

Just like I've missed out on chances to really enjoy time with my children here and there, I'm also guilty, I'm afraid, of missing out on time with God. How often is my time with Him cut short -- or even cut out -- because of somewhere I have to be, or something I have to do?

But I'm reminded, even Jesus made time with the Father a priority.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)

This wasn't a one-time thing with Him. He made time for the Father. Didn't worry about being late to this or that, or not having time to do anything else. He knew that, once that first priority -- time with God -- was attended to, the rest would fall into place.

That's the great thing about priorities, when you think about it. When we put First Things first, the rest works itself out. And even better, when that first priority is God, we allow Him access to the rest of our day, to fill with blessings we may otherwise have missed.

So go ahead: be late for something. Take a little extra time to kiss your spouse and kids. Take some extra time to spend with the Father. The rest of your day will be far better for it. 

Recharge!

Life. It is tiring. Stressful. Constant. Between work, kids, politics, and other stresses of daily life, it becomes so easy to wear down; to want to just stay in bed and spend a week talking to nobody and doing nothing. Even now, there's a good chance you're thinking to yourself how nice it would be to just have thirty minutes of complete silence, perhaps with your head on a pillow.

All of the above can be true, whether you are a Christian or not, and in fact, if you're involved in any type of ministry -- whether it is formal, or simply giving of your time to the cause of Christ -- that can even be a further drain on your emotions, your mind, and your soul.


Certainly, I'm describing myself here -- and it's recently occurred to me, maybe the problem is me.

Take out your cell phone and look at the charge status. Chances are, if you haven't plugged it in for a few days, it could stand to be charged. To be plugged into a power source and left alone. Similarly, your body needs to recharge, with the appropriate amount of rest, and with the right kinds of food.

And, like your physical self, your spiritual self -- your soul -- also needs a charge. The fact is, when we fail to "plug in" to the Source of all life, we will run down and burn out.

Even Jesus needed this time with God. Mark 1:35 says, "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Jesus needed to spend time with His Father. To shut out the world and prepare for the coming day. He had work to do for the kingdom, and needed to be at His best. And He knew His best could only come from the Father. 

Are you starting to drain? To run down and burn out? It's a lesson hard-learned: you can't be at your best, unless you're drawing power from the Father. 

Find solitude, and kneel in the presence of God. Rest in Him, and let Him refresh you. Follow the example of Christ, and prepare to serve God by basking in His presence.