23:56
I am at a crossroads in my life.
I have always had many interests and somehow found the time and energy to pursue them, but I think in this phase of my life, that balance of trying to do multiple things will be challenging, if not impossible.
In my heart of hearts I would like to spend about 6 to 8 hours every day in the presence of God – reading his word and listening to Him. This is also tied in to any ministerial opportunity that God gives me to preach His Word or write…
At the same time I have a wife and three children who are in phases of their lives (at least my older two children at age nine and eight are), when having a father figure is important. I love my family and want to spend as much time as I possibly can with them, knowing full well that in a few short years, those opportunities will pass away. I barely have time to talk even once a month to my parents and siblings. Forget about my extended family.
At the same time due to my profession, I need to both work full-time and, in addition to working, have to constantly update myself with surgical and medical knowledge, because it is, after all, a dynamic field.
Over all of this, my temperament dictates that instead of sitting around for relaxation, I should do something for relaxation. Thus, my hobby interests would be to learn a new instrument and learn a new language and learn photography and travel the world and …
Does God want me to spend time in His presence? Absolutely. Does God want me to be involved in ministry? Yes. Does God want me to spend time and relate to my family? Of course. Does God want me to work and update my surgical/medical knowledge? I have to. Does God want me to pursue non-passive hobbies? He created me that way.
As Henry David Thoreau said, ‘It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?’.
I hope to be busy doing something that has eternal value.
23:56 hours in a day is just not enough.
