Morning Brew - New Year - New Vision

Like many, I skipped the New Year's stuff. I still have a couple of days off before I go back to work which I plan on using to try to get some momentum towards a couple of personal goals. As a guy, I live my life in compartments which are not always related. I have work, family, church, music and writing - well those are the things that take up most of my time.

Christians often talk about balance in life. You know, getting our priorities in order: God, spouse, kids, work, church and free time. I know that as our little one has grown older, and we actually found a babysitter that wants to make money, my wife and I get more date nights and time together. My new job, for which I am grateful to have, costs me 2 to 3 hours more of my time each day. There are those compartments again. Something had to give, so I pretty much have given up playing guitar; although this vacation I have played a lot.

I don't think there is a formula for balancing your life. Whatever you schedule seems to be attacked by some other need. It always feel like we are stuffing 10 lbs of potatoes in a 5 lb sack. Honestly, it is a little too complex for me - and I am a project manager! I'd like my schedule to be on auto-pilot

I previously have worked hard to keep my priorities, but like so many other things that I thought could control, life happens. When I think about my "perfect" life, it always includes my family and Jesus. At the moment, they are the only ones that I can count on.

There are lots of things that I would like to do. I love to play guitar, and I am actually toying with the idea of playing in a country band. Why not? I have done blues, rock, jazz and classical. I like hot tubs, and enjoy travel and mission trips.

The next couple of days I am going to see if I can make some sort of inroad to add a little fun to my 7:00 am to 6:00 pm routine.

In the final analysis, I don't believe balance is really what God is after. I think that He is after relationship, and if our time belongs to Him, then He will set seasons in our lives for His purposes. Some days it is a honeymoon, others it is working the fields, and others it is a mountain top or walking in the desert - even the valley of death is in the hand of God.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--

Until things change, I am going to praying this prayer. Or, until I change.