“There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time.” Napoleon I, Maxims, 1815
I long for time. I long for uninterrupted time. I long for uninterrupted time without the screaming “conveniences” that have tried to spin my world into a frenetic, multitasking three-ring circus. That world has attempted to repeatedly and openly declare war on my creativity. I refuse to dignify the threats of that pace. It will not drive me. I will harness that system, own it, and keep it in check at the borders of a quieter, more ordered life.
Almost 200 years ago Napoleon witnessed and warned of the time robbers from a world that by today’s standards was crawling at a snail’s pace. So, by my brilliant deductive skills I can tell that this assault on our time is not new. In fact, the Apostle Paul nearly 2,000 years ago gave us a strong warning on the same subject:
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Ephesians 5:15-16 The Message
It’s an old war, now waged on a new field. As much as I enjoy my iPhone and the immediate connection I have with the world through Facebook, Twitter, SMS and email apps, it can be used against me. The convenience and intended productivity help in my little wireless assistant can become a source of distraction. My suspicion is many of you are dealing with it too.
I have news for you. Multitasking is not nearly the friend we all thought it was. Recent studies of brain activity have shown that when we devote ourselves to two tasks, we are dividing our brainpower between the tasks -half to one and half to the other. It also takes longer to do each one because of it. Half-engaged is not good enough for anything I have chosen to do. Especially when it comes to God, family and my creative calling.
I am on a quest. A quest for time. A quest for uninterrupted time. I will have it, too. How about you?
I love it that other people think the same way about multi-tasking. I don’t believe it saves any time, either. I would rather FOCUS my attention on one thing and do it well than have several projects going and risk having each one half-done. Multi-tasking has never done well for me. My hat goes off to those who can, though. But do they really want to multi-task?
“Make the most of every chance you get.” How absolutely true. That has been puslating in my spirit for the past couple of weeks. Time…sometimes I wish time would hurry up, and then there are times when I wish I could pause the time. I really enjoy Pastor Bill Winston’s messages on Redeeming the Time. As Spirit-filled children of God, we have authority over time. Yet at the same time our lives here on earth is a quest to make the most of the time given to us. Each day is a battle to ward off distraction–a determination to stay the course, be focused, refusing to get our eyes off the goal/destination.
Thank you for your thoughts on Time.