Pastor’s Thoughts

Where does all our time go? Who ever pinned the saying, “time flies” must have been watching a shuttle launch, because time is lost in the blink of an eye. No matter how you divided or measure time, it simply comes to pass. Time is certainly precious so we dare not waist it. We should not allow the things of the world to manipulate our time nor should we neglect to use what time we have in the most productive way. I know we call that prioritizing but we have been told all our lives to get our priorities in order and chances are we haven’t done so. No need for me to say that again in this article, oh I just did. Here is what I really want to say, time spent with God, God’s people, and family are all what I consider the best possible use of time.

I remember years ago when I was a youth minister getting the young people together to go on outings. I knew that it was important to do things that they enjoyed to stimulate interest and to enable them to build lasting spiritual relationships with one another.  The day would arrive for our outing and we would climb into the church bus to head out on some adventure. I’d start the van and then glance into the rear view mirror to make sure all were settle in and ready to begin this great time spent together. There they were, seeming on every head, a spring loaded wire connected to two soft coverings for the ears. Had I not brought some fantastic CDs or maybe it was cassettes back then in order to listen to music together or sing along, but no… those confounded walkman radios carried each person into a separate world. Time that should be spent with friends was instead wrapped up in those electronic devices.

Now I don’t need to tell you that things have gotten worse. I remember going to the hospital to set with a young man whose wife was having surgery. When I first arrived I interrupted his texting long enough to have prayer for his wife however from that point on I felt as out of place as a sledge hammer in a china shop. If I tried to engage in conversation I was interrupting his texting or the game in which he was immersed on his cell phone. I finally gave up and set quietly twiddling my thumbs for nearly and hour and one half waiting for the sergeant’s report. I remember leaving the hospital thinking what a waist of my time.

Personally connecting with people has somehow lost it value in our mixed up culture. I understand that we all need our personal space, but I also know we need each other. So for what it is worth, I urge you to turn some things off, shut some things down, move out of the world of electronic communication and engage the greatest God given resource available, people. It will be time well spent.

Learning to trust in Christ,

Pastor Danny