Crumbs of Time

In 1994, I attended a seminar entitled, How to Operate a Successful Professional Speaking Business. The two presenters were very successful nationally known speakers, who made several key points, but the one that really struck a nerve was, “Are you running your business, or is your business running you?” Was my speaking business running my life? At times it sure felt that way. 

When a business owner permits the business to control his life he can become so occupied with having products and/or services, marketing them, selling them, sending invoices for sales made, supervising and training employees, paying taxes, etc., that there is very little time left for God and family. It’s such an insidiously easy trap to fall into that some small business owners work a grind of sixty or seventy or even eighty hour a week, sometimes to just make ends meets, sometimes out of habit, or for other valid or self-justified reasons. 

On an individual, more personal level, does my busy world control me, or do I control my world? Is my schedule so filled with work, answering emails, browsing the internet, shopping, cooking, Facebook, golf, exercise classes, watching television, and a myriad of other activities that I can barely carve out time for Sunday mass, much less daily prayer? How shocked and dismayed will I be if I compare the amount of time I spend browsing the internet out of boredom or staring mindlessly at the television with time spent in prayer, reading scripture, or charitable work? In my daily life does God have to settle for left-over crumbs of time? 

The gospel reading for this Sunday is from Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 (NAB):

The Coming of the Son of Man

²⁵ "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,

 and on earth nations will be in dismay,

 perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

²⁶ People will die of fright

 in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,

 for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

²⁷ And then they will see the Son of Man

 coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

²⁸ But when these signs begin to happen,

 stand erect and raise your heads

 because your redemption is at hand.

³⁴"Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy

 from carousing and drunkenness

 and the anxieties of daily life,

 and that day catch you by surprise
³⁵ like a trap.

 For that day will assault everyone

 who lives on the face of the earth.

³⁶ Be vigilant at all times

 and pray that you have the strength

 to escape the tribulations that are imminent

 and to stand before the Son of Man." 

In verse 34 Jesus pointed out that anxieties of daily life can be a trap - Satan’s trap. Earlier in the gospel of Luke, He set the example for us:

^15 The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments,
^16 but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray. – LK 5:15-16

Jesus had a product to sell. He had disciples to train (Peter must have been a handful), marketing to look after, travel plans to make, demons to cast out, healings to accomplish, miracles to carry out, Pharisees to confront, parables to make up, and sermons to prepare and deliver. He needed to make time for the Transfiguration, and institute the Holy Eucharist. “But he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.” Our Lord always made time to pray; He was in constant communication with the Father. 

When my world doesn’t leave me time to pray, it’s time for me to slow my world down.

 

Blessings to All,

 

Larry T.