Where You Lead

Important versus Urgent

He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done.

Proverbs 19:17

I’m a list writer. When I have things to do, I write lists. I always feel so good about my lists, and I love marking things off of them. And yet, I complain that I just don’t have enough time to do all the things I’d like to do. Just one problem with that.

I spend an awful lot of time doing things that are not on any of my lists. In fact, I spend more time doing the things that aren’t at all deserving of placement on my lists than I do on the lists themselves. That sure does make me wonder how much more I could get done if only I’d stop doing the things that are just not important.

Yes, I blog and I write that activity on my list. But why must I take time from my blogging to read over the celebrity gossip sites or eavesdrop on the latest forum fight? Isn’t watching a football game with my son more important? Or playing with makeup with my daughter? They’re not on my lists, either but they ought to be.

I want to give my time to those in my community touched by addiction but I’m always “too busy.” I want to get to Mass a few mornings each week but I never seem to get moving in time. All those things that aren’t important enough to put on my list are keeping me from the things that are important. It isn’t that I don’t have enough time; it’s that I don’t manage my time properly. It’s that I waste time doing things that do not enrich my life and sometimes actually bring me down.

Today, I’m going to try to eliminate as many of the time wasters from my day as I can. I’m going to spend time really listening to my sons and daughter about how their day was and I’m going to sit down and really talk to my husband. Today, instead of doing the things that bring me down, I’m going to do at least one thing for someone else. I’m going to reach out and make some kind of difference, even if it just means making eye contact with someone who is trying to share their day with me.

I’m going to let God guide my priorities.