Last night was our first Church League Men’s Softball game. I was pitching for our team. Now I think they let me pitch because first of all I can get the ball over the plate 70% of the time and two because I don’t have an arm to play outfield or the quickness to play infield. I think it’s where I can do the least harm. Anyway the game started off and after the first 2 innings the score was close, like 5-3. During that time I was trying so hard to make a strike, to not walk anyone, well I was trying too hard. I ended up walking two batters.. in church slow pitch softball.

Fortunately we got out of the inning and our team came on and had a big rally and put up about 10 runs on the board. You know what happened next time I pitched? I threw 5 pitches the whole inning. I did not walk anyone, and I threw pitches right over the plate.

So what was the difference? The margin for error I had. With only one run difference.. I was trying to be so perfect I was making mistakes. With a 10 run lead I relaxed, didn’t worry so much and just played the game. It was because I allowed myself room to make mistakes that I actually did better. I did not worry about someone getting on base because I knew I had some room to work with.

How often when I am in ministry do I not allow myself room to work? When I wait until the last minute to put together a song list or to create lead sheets, then I make mistakes. When I do not communicate with people before a service, and therefore do not know who will be there, I try to make it up and be perfect and I do not worship, I worry.

What I am learning is to create margin for error, margin for interruption, space for things to happen. If I work on songlists a few weeks out then I have room to change a song when it feels right. When I create lead sheets early, I can play through them and make sure everything is fine before rehearsal. When I communicate and organize and know what is going on in a worship service, even the elements I am not directly in charge of, things flow smoother, I do not worry and I am more open to God moving into the lives of those who are gathered together.

So my question is how can we create margin?

1. Prayer- Someone wise once said, “I have so much to do today I need to spend another hour on my knees in prayer.” It is amazing what happens to your time when you pray. I find I get more done, and that distractions seem to disappear.

2. Prioritize- “Seek first the Kingdom of God” When you put God first He will help you to see what those important things are to do each day.

3. Make a list- Use a post it note, your pda, or a piece of paper and write down what you need to do for the day or even the week. I get a sense of accomplishment as I cross off things, and I can see what I have done, and what I have left to do.

4. Use your time wisely- Don’t just refrain from doing things that waste time, for example playing scrabulous or checking your facebook, (personal examples) but when you have 10 minutes here or 5 minutes there find something on your list for later in the day or week and go ahead and do it.

5. Take your time off- If you are in full time, or even part time ministry you need a day off. Just a hint… Sunday is not a day off. Find a day in the week that you can stay away from church and church conversations, emails, etc. Don’t just sit at home though, find something to do that rejuvenates you. Spend time with a friend, read a book, work on a non ministry related project or perhaps take a nap.

A wise person once told me never to start your blog, after you have not written for a while, with the words… “so I haven’t written for a while” or something similar. The truth is that many things have kept me busy and I haven’t had time. Well that’s not exactly true. If I really sit and think back on my day was I really all that busy? Wake up in the morning and get ready. Make lunch for my wife (how sweet am I) and get her off to work. Make sure the dogs have water and are safely confined in the kitchen. Go to work. Work all day long. Come home. Eat dinner Go to bed!
I could be fooled in to thinking that all of that takes up all of my time but if I really sit and think about it there are pockets of 15 minutes here and 30 minutes there scattered all through the day. Like when I finish working on something and it’s 10 minutes before lunch so I really can’t get into another project. Or when I come home and my wife is still at school for another 30 minutes. Maybe it is not that my time is not all occupied, but that it is occupied with the wrong things. Television? Purposeless internet surfing? Wasting Time?
I guess there is time to write, to share my thoughts, to rejoice in the highs and lows of the day. And really it’s not just about blogging. It’s also about prayer.
It is so easy to do the same thing in my prayer life. I can get into thinking that I don’t have time, that there are soooo many other important things that have to go on that I don’t have time. Maybe I could find some time that exists already.. maybe I should cut out some things that aren’t all that important. Maybe my next conversation with God shouldn’t start off with the words “So I haven’t talked to you in a while…?”

What about you. Do you find it hard to set aside time to pray during your busy schedule? Or if not.. How is it that you find time to spend with God during the day? Please comment and share your ideas.

A wise person once told me never to start your blog, after you have not written for a while, with the words… “so I haven’t written for a while” or something similar. The truth is that many things have kept me busy and I haven’t had time. Well that’s not exactly true. If I really sit and think back on my day was I really all that busy? Wake up in the morning and get ready. Make lunch for my wife (how sweet am I) and get her off to work. Make sure the dogs have water and are safely confined in the kitchen. Go to work. Work all day long. Come home. Eat dinner Go to bed!
I could be fooled in to thinking that all of that takes up all of my time but if I really sit and think about it there are pockets of 15 minutes here and 30 minutes there scattered all through the day. Like when I finish working on something and it’s 10 minutes before lunch so I really can’t get into another project. Or when I come home and my wife is still at school for another 30 minutes. Maybe it is not that my time is not all occupied, but that it is occupied with the wrong things. Television? Purposeless internet surfing? Wasting Time?
I guess there is time to write, to share my thoughts, to rejoice in the highs and lows of the day. And really it’s not just about blogging. It’s also about prayer.
It is so easy to do the same thing in my prayer life. I can get into thinking that I don’t have time, that there are soooo many other important things that have to go on that I don’t have time. Maybe I could find some time that exists already.. maybe I should cut out some things that aren’t all that important. Maybe my next conversation with God shouldn’t start off with the words “So I haven’t talked to you in a while…?”

What about you. Do you find it hard to set aside time to pray during your busy schedule? Or if not.. How is it that you find time to spend with God during the day? Please comment and share your ideas.