Time Compromise

I don’t like to waste time. When I am ready to go somewhere, I want to go. I don’t like waiting around for this or that, for someone slow or for anyone who is just plain dilly-dallying. And I don’t like to be late. To me being late is wasted time, disrespectful, unnecessary and most of the time inexcusable. You may think in reading this that I am pretty structured, organized and a mean person. But really, I’m not. I was just raised this way. In the Blair family being on time is being at least 10 minutes early. It’s better to be early or on time, and being late is more than a nuisance.  My parents instilled in all of us that being early is really being on time.

Then I met and married Jon.  Jon comes from a family that moved out west from Minnesota in the 40’s. They were country folks, farmers and hard workers.  And I venture to say they moved out here slowly.  I won’t say I have any facts to prove that, but just by lifestyles that I have observed over the last 43 years I am confident it wasn’t done quickly.  They just don’t move fast.  And it doesn’t seem to bother them that they may be holding up the party by their “slowness”.  It’s just who they are.  It’s just how they were raised.  It’s not good or bad.  It just is.

So put those two together and you have TENSION.  Or at least you have two people dancing to two different drum beats, trying hard to make each other understand the other one.  And chastising the other one for doing a waltz when you are moving to the disco beat.  Not fun.  And certainly not very productive.  Unless you keep working at it, studying each other’s moves and learn to make your own dance out of it.  And that’s what we’ve done.

Now, after over 42 + years of marriage Jon and I have danced out our differences in appointment/time management.  We have spent time discussing our bents and working from each side to learn how we can meet more in the middle and either not be so stressed with feeling late, or feeling like we are wasting time getting somewhere early (or just plain on time!).  It’s worked well, and we have come a long way.  Jon realizes that it’s not prudent to try to fit one more thing in before we head out the door and I realize that being early to places is not always necessary and sometimes just not wise!  We are now a better functioning twosome!

And that makes for a happier marriage.

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Checking Your Light

Today a verse I read stuck in my craw and nagged at me all morning.  Jesus said in Luke 11:35 “Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.”

The context of His teaching is that we have within us the light, and we don’t want to keep hiding the light from people, but we want to display the light…for the world around us to see.  He then goes on to say, Vs 34 “Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eyes are good, your whole body is full of light.  But when they are bad, your body is also of darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.”

I was struck with the realization that in His words to His followers He was making a statement that would challenge me in 2017 to be mindful of what my eyes are opening up to, what they are gazing upon and what they are feeding to my soul.

“Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.”  Implication to me is that, if I am not careful, what I perceive as light (truth) may actually be darkness (lies).  How can I know?  How can I know for sure that what I am spouting as truth is truth?

My assurance comes from my relationship with His Word and through the Holy Spirit.  Does it line up with the scriptures?  Is it founded on what I already know to be true?  Is Jesus the center and rock bottom of what I am espousing as truth?   Am I willing to step back and evaluate my thoughts?  Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to what I am proclaiming?

Phil. 4:8 admonishes us, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think on such things.”  And Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”

When I have practiced these disciplines, I can be assured that there is light in my heart and truth is being worked in me.  I can trust the Holy Spirit to bring a check to me if my light is harboring darkness or things that simply are not true.

A good reminder for me to continually check my light.  Pray and listen to the Holy Spirit and walk in the Light of His leading.