There is a saying that writers have to write. I disagreed with this when I was a read writer. Now that I write for an audience of one (and I’m not counting God since He isn’t as egotistical as my reader) I realize the truth of the statement. I write because I have to. The fact that it is put on the internet in the guise of a blog that has the “potential” to be read by millions makes it sound less pathetic, but the reality is that I have to write.
Course, if this is true then why haven’t I written anything since last August? My reader posts a good question. He already knows the answer, but to rub it in his face, the reason I haven’t yet written my book is well because of … Facebook. Namely games like Mafia Wars, Farmville and now I’ve joined another endeavor called Kingdoms of Camelot. Never has so much been done by so many for so little. Some of the most addictive and inconsequential activities one can waste one’s life on and feel justified in doing so (I do reference John 3:16 on my farm in Farmville and practiced crop rotation in accordance with scripture – I would say I tithed, but God might strike my little farmer down with lighting).
I wrote a few years ago about artificial achievement. How we all want to achieve something great with our lives. How we want to be apart of something bigger than ourselves. Some find this as sports fans, others in the “second lives” of video games (this includes Facebook in my estimation), some in gossip (also a Facebook staple) and others in preferring others above themselves through service, prayer and charity. The first three are a waste of our time and talent, only the last will survive past the reboot.
It’s this last thought that leads me to this article. I’ve been bemoaning my lack of time to anyone who will listen and finding no one I’ve vented my frustrations to my wife. While it is true that I’m a busy boy: I spend 50-60 hours a week as a teacher, have 5 children whose lives I’m very active in, do my fair share of the household chores, am active in my church, and on top of this work 10 hours a week with the production company that I started. The truth is I also am capable of wasting time as effectively as the best of them (ie. bums). In addition to Facebook and FB games, I watch way too much TV, movies and … actually that about sums up the four horsemen of my time apocalypse. Speaking of which I need to update my kingdom. And I’m not even kidding.
I’ve been struggling for years with this juggling act and have noticed a paradox. When I’m super busy doing what I should be doing I don’t complain about my lack of time. It is only when I have time and am wasting it that I moan about how much time I don’t have. Tonight, it was brought to my attention (and I don’t mean to name drop but he’s the only famous person I know) by God that I am not a wise steward of my time. I’ve prayed for, and have sought to free up more time so I could devote it to Catacomb Films (my production company) but until I am faithful in the little then I won’t be ruler over much.
My consistent erraticism when it comes to time management is something I must have mastery over if I’m ever to go from a dreamer to a visionary. In the meantime I’ll leave you with three quotes from my iPod playlist and my other reader.
“Don’t let me trade the eternal for the things that are passing.” Rich Mullins
“Time is tickin’ away.” dc Talk
“Lord, make my life a prayer to you, I wanna do what you want me to, no empty words, no white lies, no token prayers, no compromise.” Keith Green
“He who is faithful in little, will be made ruler over much.” Jesus
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