It starts with a panicky feeling that I’m forgetting something. That nagging awareness that I am leaving something very important left undone. But what? A general sense of uneasiness isn’t helping me to focus on a goal and knock it out. If I could only pinpoint the task, I’d be able to face it head on. What is it? Should I check my “to do” list one more time? Am I spending too much time coming up with the “to do list”?

The sense of “urgency” I am feeling is nothing new. I remember reading a small booklet when I was still in my teens titled, “The Tyranny of the Urgent”, or something close to that.  The point was to bring one’s attention to how much of our time is spent doing “urgent” things instead of important ones.  Good point.  Our culture seems caught up in responding to everyone and everything else rather than proactively focusing on the things that are really going to make a difference and help them live a purposeful, fulfilled life.

My cell phone is a prime example. I have a friend who once quipped, “this cell phone is for my convenience, not theirs”.  Revolutionary.

He’s right you know.

What would it look like if we lived our lives focusing on what’s truly important rather than what feels urgent?

I have yet to meet a husband or father who would say that their work is more important than their family, but if you checked out their schedule you would see time usage that tells a different story.

So this feeling I am experiencing isn’t new or unique to me.  I bet you have felt it a time or two yourself.

The Scriptures instruct us to,

 “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” Ephesians 5:16

This is what it looks like to say “no” to the multitude of urgent things, (e-mails, texts, calls etc.) and say, “yes” to purposeful, prioritized living.

I sincerely hope this has been a wise use of your time…it was meant to be.