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Wasting Time

 Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. (Psalm 106:45)

making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16)

          One of the sources of anxiety that plagues my life is a worry that I am wasting precious time; way too much precious time. Today is a great example. I started out pretty well, mowing my lawn, weeding along the road. But after lunch, I got it into my head that I needed to get whatever else was needed to decorate for the holiday. And then, of course, I had to put up the decorations. Mostly, it’s clear lights. I remember back in December 2001, feeling grateful for everyone who put up lights. We needed lights. This year, we need lights and music. I don’t like to bother my neighbors with music, but this year, I’m tempted to because we need it. The problem is, it’s now after 4 and this blog isn’t done. The decorating I’ve done looks ham-handed to me. I spent more than I wanted to. I should have stopped when I got the snowflakes I wanted. Of course, that may all change when it gets dark enough to turn the lights on, and not one decoration is unchangeable.

          But there is still this sense of having wasted time. That’s actually a good thing because at least now I have something to write about. As I started into another pity party about wasting my time, and how I seem to do nothing but waste time, the thought came to mind that I’m not trusting God. If I were trusting God to give me wisdom, direction, and attitude, I wouldn’t be worrying (attitude) about the wisdom of going out of my way to do something to benefit everyone who sees it.

          I’m sort of liking this as a rule. If I am not sinning, and if I am not failing to do something when I have made plans to do something else, I’m probably not wasting time. Of course, if I’m supposed to be somewhere at 8 and I’m scrolling through Face Book at 7:45 instead of beginning my half-hour trip, that’s different. But trusting God to lead me is more important than my filling my every waking moment with something I think valuable, or something I think others will think valuable.

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