Spend it Wisely

            As I write these words I am sitting alone in the back room of my home. My wife refers to this room as my man cave.  I have my big easy chair, a nice TV that my son bought me, and on the walls I have all kinds of sports memorabilia.  There is a wood cutting of Sapelo Hammock Golf Course.  Plaques that commemorate holes in one.  A drawing of the layout of Augusta National. And behind me there is the big fish.  It’s actually a replica of the largest bass I’ve ever caught. 

            I share this room with a nine-year-old beagle mix, and a sixteen-year-old Pomeranian.  They stay pretty quiet most of the time. But there was the day when the possum came up on our back deck and helped itself to the remaining food in their bowls. That caused quite the ruckus.  And I must tell you this. I had never seen a possum move so fast, or climb a fence, until I opened the door and told him to scram. 

            But back to my story. I am sitting alone because my wife has been away at a Vacation Bible School training session.  She left yesterday. She should be home later tonight.

            As I sit here alone, I have had much time for thinking. I’ve done some reading.  I’ve tried to get interested in a basketball game between Michigan and Michigan State.  And I’ve spent time practicing reading and speaking Spanish.  I hope to take a mission trip to South America later this year, and I would like to be able to converse at least a bit with the new friends I will meet.

            And then I decided to write for the paper.  I have actually accomplished a good deal this evening by myself. I have tried to use my time wisely. Listen, we all need “down time.”  But I know that I can easily waste hours on my phone or watching mindless TV.  I want to do better.

            Paul spoke to us about, “redeeming the time.” You only get so much, and you don’t know how much it will be.  Use it wisely. Use it to make yourself better, to help someone else, and above all else, to glorify God.