Photo by Jakob Rosen on Unsplash
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV
Has a friend ever asked you, “Where have you been?” The worst response is silence — that time when you can’t even identify what you have been doing or where the distractions have led you. You didn’t have a good answer. Where did all the time go, it seems to fly by so fast. I know, I know, it’s hard to keep track of what we’ve been doing or where we’ve been going.
Perhaps that’s why Paul says, “Redeem the time for the days are evil.” (KJV) The days steal your value, they steal your self-worth, they steal your opportunities. Another way of saying redeem the time is “paying attention.” When teaching young people, I used to say, “tune in.”
That may be why scripture teaches us to pay attention, saying, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 ESV) It really does take wisdom to find alignment. Find the way to align your musical notes to the symphony of the world. It used to be that you needed a good ear to tune your instrument. Now, all you need is a gadget or an app on your phone. How do you tune in, pay attention, or redeem the time?
“Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.”
Colossians 4:5 ESV
Perhaps you need a better strategy for committing your life to that higher calling, that meaningful purpose to which we all know we can be dedicated. We need a connection with reality. Every worldview has a different idea of what that means, but taking time for personal contemplation and study is a starting point. How would God advise you? There’s an interesting spot in first book of the Bible where God questions the first couple, knowing that they’ve gotten out of alignment, calling out to them, saying, “Where are you?”
“But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’”
Genesis 3:9 ESV
Search the scriptures or some other source of truth for answers that will help you get in tune. In tune with the universe or other concept of ultimate reality.
Here are some practices inspired by my search on ChatGPT:
Reflect Daily: Reflect on your actions daily, especially at the end of the day, perhaps trying a daily Examen. Where has your focus been? Stay mindful of how you use your time.
Set Priorities: What truly matters? Identify and prioritize activities in the time you’ve been given. Make sure they align with your vision, values, and goals.
Limit Distractions: Distractions are pulling us away from our priorities. Set some boundaries with technology. Take a look at your schedule. Perhaps you could find a quiet place and meditate on your time and responsibilities.
Stay Connected: Check in with yourself and your surroundings. Stay present and connected to the world, especially the people around you.
These practices could begin to prevent feelings of detachment or disconnection. It is important to use our time wisely. 8 Moves is our training strategy. It’s all about discovering ways to take intentional action every day. In the process, we find wisdom from God’s creation and movement in our experience.