The Time Crunch Doesn’t Stop
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”
Time is a commodity that is often undervalued when we are young, and we feel most of our time is ahead of us. As we get older, we can often regret the time wasted or misused earlier in life. Once time is gone, we cannot reclaim it. It isn’t just about lazy moments; regret can come from our choices throughout our lives. For example, there were so many moments when I went to inane evening meetings when I could have been home with my wife and daughter. I cannot get that time back with them.
In his article “The Price of Wanting More,” Dan Pedersen points out that when we focus on our goals in our professional lives but are less committed to honoring our personal lives, we may live to regret it. Pedersen states, “If you are going to sacrifice what you have now-your time, your health, your finances, relationships, etc., for what it can bring you in the future, make sure it’s worth it. Because what you sacrifice now may not be recoverable later.”
Two years after I completed seminary and began pastoral ministry, I decided to go back to school for my doctorate. Jill and I just had Hannah, who was only months old. Jill and I both worked more than full-time, and my going to school and keeping Hannah alive seemed insurmountable. We both knew a lot of the burden for parenthood would land on Jill. It was a decision we needed to decide together. We decided to make the sacrifice because it would help me become a better pastor and provide more opportunities. We haven’t regretted the decision, but I still ache at times I missed with my family.
What major decisions have you made in your life? Which ones were a blessing and worth the sacrifice? Which actions were not worth the loss of time with family, friends, and your mental wellbeing? Prayerfully ask God to guide your decisions moving forward, so you take the gift seriously and make the most of the time God has given you.
