Free Time?

I'm a pastor. I work weekends. And contrary to the myths, many days during the week as well. My wife works during the week and then has to deal with my weekend commitments.

I love what I do. I can't imagine doing anything else. But it's beginning to occur to me how my schedule is affecting my marriage.

This weekend I had a Saturday that was almost entirely free. One phone appointment and a guy came to work on the church office's computer network. Apart from that, a free Saturday.

So my wife and I did what we often do...we made the dump run(hauled our trash cans to the local landfill). We shopped for a few food items. But we basicly hung out.

We don't find a lot of hanging out time. So much to do. So little time. Lots of people to meet. Lots of calls to take. Day after day after day. And slowly it takes it's toll.

We run out of energy by the time our heads hit the pillow at the end of the day. We find our conversation filled with the logistics for the next day or week. And somewhere we begin to lose us.

We're not alone. It doesn't matter what you do for a living. Or what your spouse does. Life in this century calls for strong discipline if your marriage is going to deliver all you hoped.

It means you begin to put time margins back into your life. As Americans we seem to worship efficiency. Multi-tasking. Productivity. But hey folks, how about satisfaction? How about contentment?

What say we bump our marriages from 3rd or 4th on the list up to number 1? How about it? Wouldn't you really rather cultivate a GREAT relatioship with your spouse? After all, your boss isn't going to be there to care for you in your old age. And all those causes we volunteer for...are they going to love you when you're no longer so productive?

Make some free time. You need it. Your spouse needs it. Your marriage needs it.

Me...I'm looking for more free Saturdays!

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