A Time for Everything - Lent 2020
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-5
In campus ministry, it can often feel like you are pulled in one hundred different directions. Bob and I get calls from students at all hours of the day (and night). Some of these calls are emergencies, some only feel like emergencies at the moment, and it can be hard to separate the two.
It is also hard to separate home and work life. We get texts during family dinner and emails during bedtime stories. We knew, going into ministry, that this was going to be our life, and we daily feel blessed to have been called to such an amazing place with amazing Native students.
It has taken us a few years, however, to understand and create boundaries, but we know it is essential to our marriage and to the growth of our children. Our priorities, in order, are God, spouse, children, serving. And yet, I still struggle with fulfilling these responsibilities and doing them well.
I know this is a problem for many people: how do we attend to all of the daily business and still find time to read the Bible? To serve others? How do we find balance? The struggle is real!
I wish I had a concrete answer, but so far, I only understand this:
1. God appreciates the little things. Sometimes serving is simply showing up and loving on someone. Sometimes sitting with God is the quiet moment between hearing your kids wake up and getting out of bed to make breakfast.
2. There is a time for everything and a purpose for each piece of the puzzle God puts in front of us. The best we can do is keep our priorities straight and embrace the chaos. Carve out time with God. Show love to the people you care about and those in need. Love the space where God has placed you.
Heavenly Father, help us to use this Lent season to prioritize our lives, putting you at the top. Also, give us the energy to fulfill the responsibilities you have given us and the wisdom to realize our boundaries. Amen.