The Sneaky Thief - Time (Part 1)

I spent the last few days of this week working with a student to help her prepare for a final exam in her Degree program. However, with every conversation we had, it became more and more apparent that 'Time' was not on our side.

The 'to-do' list of items that I would need to cover just kept piling up with no real sense of end in sight. The more we discussed, the more I wanted to give up because the 'Time' seemed too short for me to cover all the gaps I had uncovered.

  Time, this silent enemy was stealing my ability to make progress. 

With this awareness, my actions thereafter were more deliberate and focused. I created a list of things to cover the next time we spoke and made sure that we did not digress. I also made use of the technology and sent voice notes, reading material, and short videos via WhatsApp. In addition to this, I had to coach her to deal with the psychological blockers that usually arise during exam season. In the end, though short, I believe that I was able to make the most of the revision 'Time' I was given and my student was extremely happy with the end result.

In Today's society, we are constantly bombarded by a trillion posts, tweets, and requests across the many social media sites, all of which seem equally important and urgent; all vying for our immediate attention. Teenagers and adults alike are left feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and sometimes confused about how to prioritize their life; the importance of goal setting. Too often, this is the reason that the pews in our churches are left empty and why we are failing to give witness to our Christian faith. 

For many, this feeling of mayhem also spills into their ability to parent, to be better partners and students.

 The average person today can attest to the hours an individual can easily spend scrolling through their Facebook page or reading and responding to WhatsApp or Instagram messages. The more you read and try to respond to messages it seems like there will never be enough green circles to remove or incoming pings of new notifications. 

Have you ever wondered about the harmful effects of this phenomenon on the Brain? Have you thought about the Time that can never be regained with loved ones, especially our children because we are home but unavailable? Have you thought about the hours that we have invested reading and sharing content that is frivolous but slow to read those which add value? 

The truth is, Time is a Thief. And he continues to steal our joy and robs us of our happiness, fulfillment, and peace of mind every day because we fail to recognise the patterns and make changes. 

The Psalmist David says, "You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath." (Psalm 39: 4-5) Daily, Time steals bits and pieces of our souls and our ability to think, act and be present where we are mattered most - in the presence of God. Effective Time management is crucial for Galileans; both in the secular and biblical sense. The same zest with which we work to close off all our major items in the office we must also do when it comes to the things of God. Did I pray this morning? Did I connect with my parents this week? Did I encourage a brethren who was losing faith?

Like Bats, we must learn how to conserve our energies, and how to make the most of our waking hours. How to spend time doing the things that matter and less time on those activities that are futile. Last week we discussed the importance of Prayer and before that refraining from procrastination. Have you tried anything new? Did you make progress? 

Remember, is it only by investing in our future today that we can experience a brighter and better tomorrow. Finally, all of us will need to give an account to Him of how we have lived, so let this fact motivate us to live well. 

In Ephesians 5:15. Paul cautions the Faithful, "Be careful then,  how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making use of every opportunity."  

The thief then that we are fighting against, Galileans, is not the one who wants to steal our car, or banking information when we shop online or the items in our home. Rather, it's the thief whose sole purpose is to keep us physically, emotionally, and spiritually trapped in the mundane, go-of-the-mill, pressures of this world - war, community crime, violence, utility bills, car payments, unemployment, debt, etc. We will continue this topic next week, with additional tips on how to help you manage your time and also the importance of rest while you toil in the Lord's vineyard. 

Today, we have started a new chapter, you and I. We have been called to walk the Galilean way: will you accompany me as we embark on the Galilean path?

How do you manage your time? Let's discuss it! Visit our Facebook page Galilee Living, today to leave your comments. Make sure to Like and Follow so that you will never be out of inspiration to keep you moving.

See you again Beloved, right here next week by the Grace of the Almighty.

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