Going Off The Clock

THE MOST PHILOSOPHICAL of lessons today: we need to learn to live a little.

I mean, I hope we live a lot, but let’s start with living a little.

If you are anything like me, the list of things that must get done keeps you in a constant cycle of productivity. We don’t know the definition of a joyride, and we can’t fathom watching Netflix without laundry, meal planning, or a project in hand. And on the off chance that today has zero worries (a miracle in itself), we go borrowing some from tomorrow and the next day. We’re proactive like that. On days when we feel like we’re finally caught up, we don’t take it as a sign to relax and enjoy life but as a time to get ahead and prepare for the next bump.

Is it any wonder we can feel so weary? When we finally catch a break, we don’t take it! Or is it just me?

Paul reminds us that enjoying the easy days is something we likely need to learn. Philippians 4:12-13 says, “I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need” (AMP).

If enjoying abundance were easy, Paul wouldn’t have needed to include it in the list of things he’d learned. Of course it’s impressive that he figured out how to live with little. We know how difficult that is. But he made sure to mention that he’d learned the secret to living in abundance, too. If Paul had to learn this lesson, I’m taking that as a sign that we don’t need to beat ourselves up over the fact that we haven’t mastered it yet.

I, for one, am still a novice at this. I am married to a “fun guy.” I can’t tell you the number of times he has suggested that we do something fun—something that added no value to my to-do list and that I saw as a complete waste of time! There have been times when I’ve even gotten frustrated that he would suggest such a thing when our to-do list wasn’t complete. The nerve!

How about you? Does your mind tend to drift to tackling the next item on your to-do list instead of enjoying the moment? If so, we’re going to learn together how to embrace the good days and, like Paul says, to enjoy the abundance and live in prosperity.

The first step in learning to enjoy the moment is to recognize our love for numbers. Yes, even a word lover like me loves the numbers. I want everything to be measurable, and if it isn’t, I don’t think it’s worth my time. This is faulty thinking. Pastor and author Peter Scazzero says, “The Sabbath calls us to build the doing of nothing into our schedules each week. Nothing measurable is accomplished.”^a

When I read this, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief, longing for a weekly day of rest. But guess what? God calls us to unmeasurable moments every day, too.

Let’s get really practical here and invoke the “unmeasurable moments” rule. This is a time set aside when we go “off the clock” in the business of being productive. The idea is that eventually we will learn to instinctively inject these moments into every day, but until that happens, we need to find specific triggers to remind us to do this so it actually happens.

ACTION STEP

Set aside a designated time in your day to go off the clock. For me, this is the last hour before bed. If you always have to be doing something, here are some examples of unmeasurable things you can do (but resist the temptation to check them off a list!): linger over Bible reading and prayer; linger over bedtime stories and cuddles; let chats with your spouse last longer—and kissing, too; embrace naps on Sabbath days; read books purely for fun; have a big weekend breakfast; enjoy a French-style dinner with multiple courses that lasts for hours.

PRAYER

Father, teach me to live a little. In my effort to live purposefully, I forget to simply live and I miss out on the joy of each moment. Help me to measure less when you are calling me to rest and enjoy. In Jesus’ name, amen.

MORNING QUESTIONS

TAKEAWAY TODAY | Are you more of a fun-loving person or a productive person? What are the pros and cons to each personality type?

What “unmeasurable moments” tend to refresh you the most?

DREADING TODAY | Is there anything you’re dreading today?

REDEFINING TODAY | If so, what is another way you can view that thing you’re dreading?

ASKING GOD TODAY | What request are you bringing before the Lord today?

EVENING QUESTIONS

REFLECTION | Did you go off the clock today? Were you able to be present in the moment?

LITTLE VICTORIES | Where did you see God show up even in small ways, reminding you that you aren’t alone?

WHITE FLAG MOMENTS | When did you want to hide or escape today?

MEMORY OF THE DAY | What do you want to relish and thank God for?