My Time

I’m probably going to step on some toes with this one, but rest assured, I’m stepping on mine first. In the past few decades, we’ve been inundated with MySpace, iPhones, YouTube and various other mediums which center around “us.” More recently, there’s been a new phrase coined “main character syndrome.” It seems to affect those who grew up in this media age, or really anyone who has been submerged in technology. They view everything in life as if it’s a movie, they’re the “main character” and everyone around them is a supporting character. They do not care about being obnoxious or annoying to those around them. It’s hard to believe that anyone could be so out of touch with reality, but real examples abound everywhere. Self-care is another buzz word, which isn’t always wrong in and of itself, but it tends to push for your needs above others. To a lesser degree, even the concept of “my time” is a worldly philosophy. I had this thought as I wondered if I’d ever be able to use the washroom again without a toddler clamoring for my attention. Would I ever sleep in or actually enjoy traveling again? Maybe these aren’t wrong desires, but the fact that we can often become entitled to “my time” can be a problem. We can lose the focus of serving others and start feeling sorry for ourselves when “our time” is interrupted or lost entirely! Matthew 16:24-26 gives us a sobering perspective. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We are called to deny ourselves, including our right to our own time. And what better way to deny ourselves than to cheerfully serve our families? I’m sure we’re all familiar with the popular acrostic “JOY”, meaning Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last equals joy. Now I’m not saying you should never take a break or enjoy a moment to yourself. I’m simply addressing the attitude of entitlement which can so quickly creep in and steal that joy.

In many cultures, there’s not a lot of "me time" to worry about anyway. I think about when I went to the Philippines. One of the ladies was about to give birth and all the young ladies were super excited. “Let’s all go watch!” they exclaimed. I was shocked. “Wouldn’t she want her privacy?” I asked. They looked at me as if I had two heads. What’s privacy? Another time, I was in a room with about 20 young ladies. I asked for a place to change, and they led me into an inner room, which only contained 3 ladies. I stared at them, until they clued in. “Oh, you want to be all by yourself?!” They asked incredulously. “She’s shy!” They concluded as thankfully they left the room. Perhaps a culture like this would not struggle as much with surrendering their time, their privacy. But we all have an area which is dear to our hearts, and we hate to give it up. We need to find a balance of enjoying what we love without making it into an idol.

I will continue to enjoy any blissful “alone” time that comes my way, knowing it is a blessing and not a right.