Reentering a scheduled life

I am gradually reentering the more civilized routine...(the more technological routine). Before I begin to re-claim the schedule of my ordinary life, though, I want to renew my commitment to the following discipline.

Some of you may have read about "Making a date with God" in the CRLC Monthly Insight. I offer it here as well...I am passionate about reminding myself (and others) about the practice. For me it is much more than something "good" to do. It is critical to my peace of mind and to my ability to balance the shoulds and coulds of life's options with the gifts (and sacrifices) of living with my ear inclined to God's call. Perhaps you will find it interesting...perhaps you will want to fill out the rest of your 2007 schedule with some designated dates with God.

As the Labor Day Weekend passes many people experience an "end" to the openness of Summer Schedules. For many members of our congregations, the summer schedule often includes numerous departures from the routine practices of faith: worship, study, personal prayer time. With the change of the season, now, we see and hear repeated expressions of “Welcome Back!”

We are welcomed back to school and to church. We are welcomed back to classes and programs, committees and councils. Of course this means that we are returning to schedules where our waking moments are more fully committed and therefore require more intentional choreography. Have you already established your schedule for the remaining months of the year? As I look at mine, I see dwindling spans of undesignated time. I realize that I must set dates right now for time with the Lord who is my rock, my dearest companion and my savior.

With determination and intention I look at the months ahead, and I block out time NOW that will be protected as open and available time for God. This is time in addition to Sunday (or Saturday) worship. In those slots there will be nothing – ABSOLUTELY NOTHING – scheduled. No meetings, no classes, no appointments or programs. When that block of time approaches, I trust that I will be led to what that date with God will entail. Sometimes the protected hour remains free, and I can bask in lingering prayer and contemplation. At other times, at the moment the hour begins, I find myself called to be active or engaged with someone, some place, or some situation where I am to serve another. I realize that I have no way to foresee this far in advance what may be given to me or called from me at 6:30 on October 9, for example…. it may well be commandeered into service of some sort… but at least until 6:29 I will hold it open and free.

It takes discipline to block the time out and pledge to safeguard it against scheduling some self-determined event, be it task or pleasure. All I know is that the time is set aside now for a date with God for God to use according to God’s plan and call for that time. I invite you to plan ahead now for unplanned time. See what happens as that time approaches as you take a breath, sit before the Lord, and discover how and with whom you are to experience the time.