Time Out
To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul...
Make me know Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation.
For You I wait all the day long. - Psalm 25:1, 4-5
I recently heard a basketball coach say something with profound application for life:
“Control the tempo and the space. If we control the tempo and the space, we control the game.”
Basketball is a fast-paced game with five players on the court, referees, coaches, parents in the stands, and opposing fans. The action is measured in tenths of a second. And every player’s action or inaction has consequences.
Like life, it is complex, moves fast, and turns decisions-you-didn't-know-were-decisions into substantial realities, sometimes for good and sometimes not.
Basketball, like life, can sometimes feel like it's getting away from you. The other team has the momentum; they seem to be in control. You're "on your heels" and "one step behind." The point-lead you had is evaporating. Or a close game is turning into a blow-out.
Ever find yourself doing or saying something, or in a situation, where you wonder, "Why am I doing this? How did I get here? What is happening?" The game got away from you. The energy shifted. You made some poor choices and the consequences were greater than you expected.
So, coach calls a "time out."
What does the coach say? It’s often a version of this: "We need to play our game."
We need to play our game. Actors in the game, not reactors. “On our toes” and “one step ahead.” Because we know who we are, we know what we do, and we can do it! Go team!
There are many places in Scripture where God gives us a similar "pep-talk": "Remember who you are. Remember what we do together. Remember, I am with you. Go team!" (Ex. 2Corinthians 6:14-7:1)
The point is that the world has an approach to time, and so do we, and they're not the same. And the world has an approach to space, and so do we.
And whoever is controlling those things, in our lives, has the upper-hand.
What is the world's approach to time? There's not enough of it. Rush, hurry, schedule more, make it work, and never ever miss out! And we're always running behind, always late.
"How are you?" "Tired! Busy!"
What's our approach to time? God is in control of the "timing" of life just as He is in control of how we function best in time. There's always, therefore, enough time for what He has made us to be and called us to do.
Patience, self-control, reflection... Not overscheduled, overcommitted, worried about missing out. But available, present, under control, well-rested. A daily quiet-time, a weekly sabbath, annual retreats. Time for others. Time for God.
What's the world's approach to space? [Considering the physical space of our lives as well as our mental "clutter"—for these are directly related!]
The world wants to fill these spaces with things that are empty of value and actually make us less-present! Consider the many things we’ve bought—on sale!—but, why? The boxes in our basement, attic, garage or storage facility, or the regular thrift store drop-offs.
Or we could talk about the mental stress that dealing with these things creates, and the financial anxiety this overspending causes.
Or we could reflect on what we're letting "live rent free" in our heads. Anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, anger, greed, resentment, regret, insecurity: things that take up space in our lives by cluttering our minds.
Some are hoarders literally. But many are hoarders mentally. The space is occupied.
What's our approach to space? God is over all things—He gives and takes away; He provides and also receives back our cares and concerns. Both materially and spiritually.
So we are not greedy for more possessions, but grateful for what we have. We know that "a person's life does not consist of the abundance of their possessions." (Luk 12:15)
What we have here, we have as a gift. And if it is not a gift in our lives, then why not let it go? Why not make it a gift again, for someone else?
And we are not passively anxious, afraid, etc., but we actively entrust these things to our Lord.
The spaces in our lives—physically and mentally—are places in which we may live without undue distress, places in which the Spirit is invited to be with us. And so they are places in which others may enter, sit, and visit. Without upsetting that head-height stack of newspapers, or running into that knee-height table of shame.
Control the tempo and the space. Our Lord is in control of all things. Our Lord is involved in, with love, everything. Let Him direct the tempo, let Him enter the space. Let Christ change the energy of your life. Let Christ enter every situation with you. Let Christ restore sanity to your chaos. Let faith in Him bring His victory to your life. (1John 5:4-5)
That's our game. That's how we play. Let's play our game. Go team!
Photo by Abhishek Chandra on Unsplash