What would you do with....?
$604,800.
What would you do if you received that amount of money in your checking account every week? The caveat is that you have to use it all, each week with no carry over. The money can be spent or given away. It cannot be saved or squirreled away.
Recently I heard this question on the radio and I first wondered, “Is this a new advert for the state’s lottery?”
Then as the announcer explained, it became clear. There are 604,800 seconds in a week. Each one of us is given that time to use. If we don’t use it, we lose it.
It made me think of the story of the Israelites in the desert and their daily provision of manna. They were only to collect the amount of manna they would use in a day- no more, no less. Whatever amount each gathered, it became an omer. (“They gathered, some more, some less. But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” Exodus 16: 17,18). If they tried to hold it over to the next day, it would spoil. The only exception was for the Sabbath. They could collect double what they needed on Friday so that on Saturday they would not have to work and gather their food. That extra portion of food collected on Friday did not spoil.
Talk about a teachable moment- what a great visible example and daily lesson that the Israelites learned: trusting God to provide their needs. In leaning on Him for their sustenance, they would experience just how much God knew everything about their needs. He provided a system so that no one could “game” it: those who took too much received the same amount as those who took too little. Since it became a level playing field, the Israelites couldn’t rely on their gathering ability. They could only rely on the God who provided the meal. God knows us so intimately that He can provide just the right amount of what we need at just the right time in order for us to survive and thrive.
It makes me think that God provides us with just the right amount of time, no more, no less, each day. Each day may bring about pleasantries or troubles. Regardless, there is enough time in each day for that day and what occurs. Jesus reminds us of that when He talked about not being anxious. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34). There is enough to worry about each day, not to “borrow trouble” or borrow time and trouble from the future.
We have to concentrate on the day that we are given. Earlier in the passage in Matthew, Jesus talks about the natural world and its beauty. Designed by God to be beautiful, the flowers don’t worry about their appearance. Neither are we to be anxious about our life’s situations: we are to enjoy the moments and all (good and bad) that each day brings.
I like the idea of thinking that seconds are like money that cannot be stored. But not in a negative or punitive way that time and money will be taken away. Just that each day I get to start over just like each week begins the use of money from the original question. Each day I start with the bank account of seconds. I get to choose how wisely I use it. Of course, we all want to be wise with money. To see that the money is invested well. But do I invest my time well? Do I engage in activities that benefit me and others? Do I make the seconds, minutes, hours or days count? What makes a day “count”?
I also recently listened to my nephew’s latest sermon (Click here to listen) and I was struck with the idea that God created all things good. I knew that, yet I always associated purpose with that. God didn’t create all things to have only a specific purpose, although they do. He created also for beauty. “And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” (Genesis 2:9) When God created, He did rest and enjoy the creation: to enjoy the beauty of the created. I like the idea that the things God creates also produce beauty and therefore joy in our lives.
I think deep down we know that a day is worthwhile when we give it away- helping others in some shape or form: time listening or lending a helping hand. Part of the giving away is through our role as co-creators with God. We are God’s image bearers and so we are wired to create. Our purpose is to create whether we think in terms of classic “creators” - the fine arts- or how we create through our interactions and care of one another. We long to find purpose in our days and I think that is what gives meaning to those seconds.
But I am also learning that a day is worthwhile when it is enjoyed. Whether that is from observance of the natural world, the delight through human interaction or discovery of new ideas. A day is worthwhile because God has given it to us with just the right amount of time and activity for that day. No more, no less.
What about you? Do you ever think about your day and the time spent or to be spent? What would you do if you were given a large amount of money each day? How would you “use it up”? Would you purchase something of beauty? What would that be? Would you give it away?
How can you best use the time you are given? Giving it “away”? Investing in others? Enjoying the beauty of the world? Creating something beautiful? What would that be?
Once again, life is about moderation and balance. Time should be seen as gifts and graces: items we receive that we do not deserve. Our response to that gift is a choice: one of gratitude and use.
Extremes
Come on. True confessions. Have you ever binged watched on Netflix? Or YouTube?
I must admit that I have had a few marathon sessions watching shows that I “missed” as they originally were released. And it is so easily done. You don’t even have to do, click or enter anything further once you start watching one show. As soon as the final credits roll at the end of one show, the new segment pops up, starts loading on your screen and within seconds it begins.
The times that I have serial watched, I come away with a myriad of emotions: disgust at my lack of self-control about my time, relieve that it is finally over, disappointment that the story line is so basic. On only a couple of occasions was I satisfied with the whole process of watching the story continually unfold and resolving with a good ending. It is similar to the times when I have stayed up to 2 am reading a page turner in bed.
Moderation in all things. How true. But how difficult to achieve. Why is it?
I like the definition of moderation in the Cambridge dictionary: "moderation is the quality of doing something within reasonable limits". One would think if it is reasonable, it would be easy to achieve yet think of all the things we do in excess:
- Over eating. I have never been a binge eater although I have had my fair share of eating too much. This is especially true as the holiday season is upon us.
- Binge drinking. Apparently this is not just a college problem. I was surprised when I got into the working world to learn of my colleagues weekends; "functioning" adults who drink to excess on weekends. If you had any thoughts that it didn't apply to the rest of society- listen to the words of the current country songs- heavy drinking is advocated to relieve pain from a relationship, a difficult boss or just as good time Charlie.
- Over exercising. Exercise is great and I am an advocate but I know of people who take it way too seriously and over do it. The result- strains, injuries and possible permanent damage.
- Over spending. Just look at our national deficit and it doesn't take long to realize the problem that we have with spending too much and with money we don't have.
- Over sexed. Whether you agree or disagree with the sexual revolution, there is no denying that we have an increase in our obsession with sex. In the extreme it can cause disease, heartache, violence, pain and even death.
I also like the Oxford dictionary's definition of moderation: "the action of making something less extreme, intense, or violent. The avoidance of excess or extremes, especially in one's behaviour or political opinions."
How can we be self-controlled and remain moderate? When it seems that society is pushing us to the extremes, how do we hold to the middle course? How do we make things less extreme? How do we do something within reasonable limits?
I saw an online system for helping school children learn self-control. It is the acronym WOOP: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan. The idea is to help children achieve self-control by using this technique:
- Wish: Something you really want to accomplish.
- Outcome: The best outcome from accomplishing this goal
- Obstacle: The personal obstacles that hinder you from accomplishing this goal
- Plan: What can you do to overcome your obstacle? Name one action you can take or thought you can have. Make an if/then plan and imagine it. If / When _________ (obstacle), then I will __________ (action to overcome obstacle)
Certainly this may seem very simplistic and naive tool but I think we can learn something from this. Many times we are swayed to excess because we don't pause and reflect. We are so busy that it is easy to get caught up in what society is doing and not figuring out what is important to us as individuals. I think practicing a WOOP technique might help us in lessening the extremes.
What about you? Have you ever done anything to excess? What happened? Did you regret it? How do you handle moderation? How is your self-control? What steps can you take today to move closer towards your goal? What have you seen lately on Netflix?