Tea Time

I think I passed myself today. I was speeding along in my car (only as fast as legally possible, of course) and hoping I made all of the lights, when the other me zoomed by going somewhere else. Okay, okay, so maybe that actually didn't happen, but I was rushing around so much today that it seemed at times I was meeting myself coming and going.

Does this ever happen to you? Does life ever get so hectic that you find yourself cutting corners and missing meals just to keep up with the pace you've set for yourself? True, sometimes the busyness of our days cannot be avoided, but what would be the advantages of intentionally building into our schedules a few minutes every day just to sit down with a cup of tea or coffee with a friend or family member? We might be surprised to find out how valuable those times can be, for them and for us.

It really is all about setting priorities. Is the sale at the mall or the extra money you might make if you stay an hour later at work more important than your relationships with the people closest to you? Is the extra trophy or fatter bank account the only kind of legacy you want to leave behind you?

God has given us a set number of years to make an impact in this world. Yet all the awards and promotions we earn in our careers die with us, and we sure can't take the silver BMW we worked so hard for with us to Heaven. No, the only things that truly matter when the curtain falls on our earthly personas are the ways we have been obedient to God's call on our lives and how we have blessed others in our interactions with them. Our caring relationships with those around us could even prove to be the catalyst that someday draws them closer to God.

So why not take time out for a quiet break with someone you love or maybe just like a bit? The relationship you are building may not get you a raise or your name in the papers, but the benefits could very well be eternal.