Time

This morning while driving to work there was a really ambitious driver in the lane next to me. He was in his brand new sports car slipping in between lanes and still ending up right next to me at every intersection. In traffic it is impossible (or actually just very dangerous) to be overly ambitious. Eventually the sports car got his gap and sped towards his destination, finally getting a whole traffic light on me. While driving I thought about the sports car, but lo and behold not for long. One of the lanes up ahead started merging into another lane because of an accident up ahead, while driving slowly past the accident scene I saw my sports car friend standing next to his now very dented car. He had driven into someone's behind.

Sometimes I have impatient tendencies in traffic, but as the little sports car just reminded me again - nothing comes from rushing. After seeing his bad fortune I put my music a bit louder and danced to my beat, being thankful for this hour in my day that I don't have to do anything but drive and I don't have to be anyone except me.

Every hour of each day is so filled with have to's and need to's and get to's. You have 24 hours each day. suppose you have 7 hours sleep, 8 hours at work (plus lunch makes it 9), I travel to and from work that's another 2 hours gone, get ready for work in the morning for another hour (which is what it takes to be kind of awake and get ready) go to the gym in the afternoon (a very recent development in my calendar) for another hour. That is 20 hours right there that is gone. Now I still have to pray, eat, shower, and do chores. So what is left of life. Except the say 3 or 2 hours in the evening.

Most people use those 2 / 3 hours to stare at that electronic box that we created to waste time. We don't spend any quality time with those around us and those which we claim to love. What do you make and use your time for?

A wise person (I can't remember who) once said... Show me your diary and I'll show you what's the most important thing in your life.

Smile at a Stranger

Every day when I wake up, I have a choice to either be happy or sad. I can wake up (sometimes late) and go through the whole day rushed without taking anything in or adding anything of value to the world around me. Smiling is the easiest way to add something of value to another persons life, it comes at no expense to you and makes you feel good to. Some days it is a mission to smile to the street vendor, who is trying to make a living and know of no other way.

Do you know how nice the people at the tollgates are? Their names are put up on their booths most of the time. If you greet them by name with a smile and wish them a pleasant day/evening, they greet you back with a smile and most of the time a very warm one. Why have we become so oblivious to the people around us? Most of the time we are bashful and rude to people providing a service that we see as beneath ourselves. We think of ourselves as high and mighty and do not take time to be nice to our fellow humans, unless we seek to gain something from it.

Niceness is not overrated. It creates opportunities to show the love of the Lord to people. Make your service one of niceness and kindness.

James 2:1-9 is my inspiration (actually a law) for treating all people equally and with respect.

James 2: 1 - 9
A Warning against Prejudice
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?
2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?


5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?


8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.