The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: BUSY (02/02/17)
There’s a consistency in conversation with friends and family for the need to slow down. It’s nothing new to most. I conducted a simple Google search “how to manage time,” and I got 739 million hits. Instead of seeking ways to reduce time, we want to manage more, more often. I know because I was one of them.

Maybe I’m naïve, but I assumed this was a universal way of life. Living in a global world I thought the pace of life was a similar lifestyle for most. How wrong I was.

My husband and I moved to Germany five years ago and there’s a big difference in cultural norms when it comes to balancing work, family, ministry, and if you can believe it, a day of rest.

One of the things we love is stores are closed on Sunday. The streets are silent because there are noise ordinances. I don’t hear people complaining because they can’t mow their lawn. Instead, people of all ages are enjoying time from weekly responsibilities. It’s refreshing to see this lifestyle lived out on a weekly basis.

I’ll admit, it took time getting use to not being able to hop in the car on Sunday to buy what I thought were necessities for survival. I learned everything can wait.

Sadly, most American’s we talked with don’t like Sunday’s in Deutschland. They want their gallon of milk and now. Yes, that’s what they tell us is important. Sunday’s are what we’ve come to value most living abroad.

Before moving I accepted the “welcome to my reality” mentality of rushing everywhere. I can’t think of a retiree that responded differently when I asked how they are enjoying retirement. They say, “I’m busier now than I was when I was working.” Seriously! That’s what I have to look forward to?

For years I was sucked into disarray like the majority of Americans and, like a whirlwind, I couldn’t get out of it. I accepted the chaos because “it is what it is.”

The majority of activities were beneficial for family and ministry, but carelessly, I embraced the busy culture more than I strove to change it.

When we return, we want to live in a way that many may consider selfish. I operate too often out of guilt, especially in the church. I don’t want to get sucked back into “its just the way it is” behavior and never say no.

We desire a day of rest and it’s sad to think that “desiring” a Sabbath is but a dream. How will God view the way I spent my week when I stand before Him? It’s by the way a Commandment equal to loving God and not committing murder.

How can we maintain a healthy lifestyle the way God intends? I don’t have the answers. I’ll fight for it because in the end, I see the benefit to the quality of life and people have energy to do what’s important.

I have two weeks before I step foot on U.S. soil. We’re going to “try” and say “no” more often in order to keep God’s commandment. I hope a year from now those in the FaithWriters community can ask, “how did you do” and I’ll be able to answer that our reality has changed.

The Lord has taught me in recent months my time in worship and prayer actually adds hours to the clock. Meaning, no time is wasted in God’s presence. He restores time and helps put things in its proper order.

I Corinthians 7:29-31 in The Message articulates perfectly the importance and God’s desire how to manage our time. “I want to point out, friends, that time is of the essence. There’s no time to waste, so don’t complicate your lives unnecessarily. Keep it simple—in marriage, grief, joy, whatever. Even in ordinary things—your daily routines of shopping, and so on. Deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you. This world as you see it is on its way out.”

God has work for me to do, but I can’t keep functioning and accepting that the cultural norm is reducing God’s day of rest to two-to-three hours of free time.

I appreciate and love my American heritage and culture, but I don’t want it to dictate the ability to obey God’s commandment to uphold the Sabbath. I shouldn’t have to “fight” to preserve a full day of rest for God and my well-being.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 516 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Dennis Gallemore
02/11/17
Sadly, Sunday often seems busier than a week day.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/17/17
I think this is a powerful thoughtful piece. I like your take on the topic and the reminder of how important it is to take that day of rest. My main red ink is you don't need the apostrophes in Americans and Sundays. Because they are pretty, Ural and not possessive, you just add an s. I liked how you challenged this community to help keep you on task. I'll definitely be praying and I'll try to remember to ask if you are able to maintain that serenity here. You did a nice job. Congratulations on your 4th place in level 3. Happy Dance!