Reaching For The Prize - Redeeming the Time

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I Cor. 9:24-27

If you are like me, you struggle with time management. This is especially difficult for those of us who are tangled up in the wealth of wonderful information, friendships, and activities that can be found on the World Wide Web. (You know who you are!)

Here is a quote dealing with time management that I recently ran across:

Let us "redeem the time." Desultory working, fitful planning, irregular reading, ill-assorted hours, perfunctory or unpunctual execution of business, hurry and bustle, loitering and unreadiness,--these, and such like, are the things which take out the whole pith and power from life, which hinder holiness, and which cat like a canker into our moral being.

HORATIUS BONAR

Since that was about as easy to understand as someone chewing gum, sneezing and eating Greek food while giving directions, I've added my own amplification: (I know, you're hung up on the Greek food part...but, have you ever tried to pronounce some of their dishes? Crazy, twelve syllable names. So I'm thinking that has to add an element of confusion to my example...right?...nevermind...)

Let us "buy back the time." Aimless, unfocused, halfhearted working, sporadic planning, unbalanced reading, random, unpredictable hours, mechanical or lazy execution of business, frantic rushing and commotion, lounging and unpreparedness,--these are the things which take out the whole strength, heart and power from life, which obstruct holiness, and which seep like a cancer into our moral being.

See? How much better that was?