Over the past week, I've thought about what to blog next...
Then over this past weekend, a few conversations came up in reference to time management.
I had to chuckle because of the time of the year (Lent - very busy for preachers) and some recent changes that are about to take place for me (taking up some of my time).
This topic also rang a few bells because of the timing of Lent and Holy Week this year - of all times, my sister and brother-in-law are having their 25th Anniversary on March 26th, and one of my brothers is doing the planning for their party, which would be the Saturday before. I was hoping to go - even trying to figure out how to get to Ohio after teaching for that week, attending the reception, and then getting back as soon as I could. But on my best day, I wouldn't make it back by that Sunday, which happens to be Palm Sunday this year. Then, I had to make the phone call that I dreaded making-- calling my sister to let her know I couldn't make it. This was only made worse by me assuming that she would pass it along to my brother, and I know not to assume... so I had to also let my brother know.
Ever stub your toe twice in one night? That's about how I was feeling.
A colleague told me the other day how we, as Pastors, are often thought of as the "beckon call" people.. always having to be there for someone, regardless of our own lives.
And painfully, he's right.
I've learned, and am still learning, time management. It's an art of making sure that all of the responsibilities of all of my offices, etc, are taken care of, while still maintaining a space for myself. But as I'm about to have some changes occurring in my home and professional life, I'm also reminded of what a Bishop passed along to me when I asked her about her personal time...
She had recently gotten married, and a few years prior to that, I invited her to preach at a couple of my churches. When she had arrived in my office, I took her to a bed & breakfast where she would be staying. As I helped her with her bags, she carried in a large briefcase - large enough to need a long handle and wheels. That was going to be some "looking things over" before turning in. So I posed the question a few years later, "How are you managing time for your new spouse?" Her answer has rung in my mind ever since... She said that she does the work that needs to be done, and by a certain time each night, everything is put away and the rest of the time is devoted to her family.
There are still times that I may not be able to get away like I would hope for... Lent, Advent, ect. It comes with the job. But I'm glad that my brother and sister and her husband understand that. There are time that my emergency appointments take longer as planned sometimes. I'm glad that Dingo is still as caring (as long as I have the MilkBones nearby). There are times when I have to "get away" for a breather, and I'm glad that I have supervisory colleagues who support that.
But I'm a Pastor, and I do and go where God calls me.
