Who has Time to Change?

April 8th of 2007, I wrote my very first blog post.  It began with these words,

“When I survey people about what is the hardest thing about prayer two core issues repeatedly come up: Finding the time, staying focused.”

Now over 3 years and 250 posts later, my sense is that people are struggling more than ever to find time and focus.  May be it’s the constant interruptabilty that cell phones and texting have brought into our lives.  May be it is the constant conditioning of our minds by commercial breaks every 7 minutes and youtube videos that all must be under 10 mins. May be it is our constant groping for newness and entertainment.  Frankly, I don’t care what the cause is, but I am growing desperately concerned by the effect.
 
I recently ran a beta test of an online Bible mentoring program.  Three college students volunteered to go through it as I created it on the fly.  I sent them weekly learning modules that were a combination of text, video and audio units.  All the tools I gave them where tools I have personally used and from which I have benefited.  The units were not demandingly large and people were encouraged to work at whatever pace they could.  Nevertheless, everyone struggled with time and all three cited this as a concern from the beginning.  These are three highly motivated, bright, and successful young people.  What they could get out of the course was extremely limited because of the excessively demanding and, at times, draining lifestyle they were experiencing.  When I asked one what I could have changed about the course that would have made it better for her, she said, “Nothing.  Not unless you could change my life.  That’s the only thing that could have made a difference.  I just can’t do it right now because of the place I am in.”
 
So, I started thinking…I have got to figure out how to help people make time and un-hurry their lives if I want to help them grow in Christ.  And, that is exactly what I am doing.  I am in the process right now of creating a mini-course called “Time to Change.”  I have diligently been researching and applying tools and strategies to maximize the use of my time and weed out what is superfluous so I have time for what is most important in my life.  Guess what…the strategies are working.  Slowly but surely, I am reclaiming ground to pray, exercise, hang out with youth, play music, enjoy my family, get adequate sleep and more fully serve God.  I am loving it and want to share the joy and these secrets of exceptional living.  I call it “exceptional living” because the norm that I am seeing around me is hurry, scurry, stress, and yearning for something better.  Enough of that garbage.
 
God’s desire for us is abundant life, not abundant busyness.  He gave us, “a spirit not of timidity but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7.  We simply need to live into it, but honestly, who has time to change.  I am inviting your prayers for me as I draft this mini-course.  I will keep you updated and make it available as soon as possible.
 
I would also love to hear your favorite tools or strategies for harnessing sanity in your life. If you don’t have any, then feel free to share you biggest struggle when it comes to managing time and being productive. I would really love to help people reclaim some time turf for God.
 
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