In case you’re new around these parts, I wrote a book called Mad Church Disease that came out last year. It’s about how I literally burned out while working at a church because I didn’t know how to manage my time or my stress.
I ended up in the hospital for a week as my body just…inflamed…itself. I was having panic attacks, was unable to treat my depression adequately, had withdrawn from relationships and at the center of it, left no time for spiritual connection or growth.
It has been five years since that burnout, and slowly and clumsily I’ve been trying to be a better steward of my time and resources. I fail often, but when I do, it’s with gusto.
Many people place their priorities in a hierarchical manner. Like:
- God/Faith
- Spouse/Partner
- Children
- Extended Family
- Career
- Leisure/Friends
Remember last week when we talked about how time in developed countries is linear? This is a prime example of how we try to work in items onto our timeline based on priority.
Let’s be real with each other for a moment.
Life is crazy and more often than not, if we look at this list of priorities they often fall out of line.
Career comes first for many of us, even if it’s not our intent. We combine things as well, like family and leisure (think weekend baseball games, recitals, etc.) or faith and career (say, if you work in a church).
These things get all jumbled up. Because we can’t make sense of them anymore, it’s difficult to put them in our linear timelines. We get stressed out, frazzled, and rushed, and just throw things where they randomly fit.
Instead of viewing these parts of our life in a hierarchy, what if we viewed them cyclically?
Let’s compare this to a bicycle.
Most of us would agree that faith is the most important part of our lives, so imagine that as the middle – the axle. If our spiritual life stays healthy and strong, the other things – the spokes – are able to function in harmony and move us forward.
When you ride a bike, you don’t check off each rotation of the wheel like a to-do list. You simply arrive at your destination.
If the axle on my bike is damaged in some way, the spokes don’t carry the weight properly, which causes the tire to bend, which will then send me flying over the handlebars. Or the frame may come loose off the axle. Either way…
Crash.
Sometimes a spoke gets messed up. Sometimes things in our lives don’t go as planned. But when that happens, you don’t crash. You can ride cautiously until you get it fixed. Or you can even walk your bike to where you’re going. It’s not ideal.
But it’s not a crash.
While this post doesn’t come directly out of the book we’ve been studying the last week (In Praise of Slowness), I think in order to get to the root of our stress and feeling rushed we need to take a look at how we spend our time.
How do you view time and priorities? Linearly or cyclically? Are you moving forward, or do you feel stuck? Is everything rotating around what’s most important in your life or are you wondering where all the time went?
Comments
25 responses to “Time? What Time? That’s HILARIOUS! Hahahaha.”
You _literally_ burned out?
Sounds hot.
Inflammation….so….yeah :-) I think that’s pretty literal!
Exactly where I am within the contemplative place as of late…great questions for me to consider.
.-= Jules´s last blog ..There was a time =-.
One thing I’m learning, is that if you are over-committed, regardless of intent, anything that happens that can upset the flow of things can suddenly make everything overwhelming.
Like a kidney stone in the critical part of an important project that sidelines you for a week. Or that unexpected family issue that demands all of your attention and mental energy. Then all of the things that you couldn’t say no to get pushed behind. And the day-to-day life stuff doesn’t stop coming. If you’re not careful that wheel can come totally off of the axle a lot faster than you think.
I haven’t quite figured out how to set the pace yet. Or how to create enough margin. But I’m realizing that if I don’t, I’m setting myself up to fail, and giving myself no time to recharge for the next wave of the unexpected.
I know this, I can’t continue to max myself out. I can handle it when I’m at the top of my game, but it’s not sustainable. And I’m not the only one that suffers when things get out of hand. That is more important than anything.
.-= dubdynomite´s last blog ..Plan B – Pete Wilson =-.
I definitely view my priorities cyclically. I haven’t always but since I have it has made a HUGE difference in my life.
.-= Kevin M.´s last blog ..Sermon Synopsis 5/23 – Overcoming the mountain of sacrifice =-.
An important part of this is learning how to say NO, especially in churchworld. I love this concept, and will be thinking about it this week. Thanks, Anne.
.-= Jenna B.´s last blog ..30 Things in 30 Days – Day 12 =-.
This is a great reminder Anne. I usually view them as linear but I need to view them as cyclically. It can def get stressful
.-= jackalopekid´s last blog ..reading =-.
Great post, Anne! I started having similar thoughts when I realized couldn’t really come up with a favorite color.
I do photography, so color is huge in my world. Even if that doesn’t make sense, you’ll just have to follow me here. :)
I decided I would just reject the idea of having a favorite anything. If any particular item — book, type of food, place, whatever — rose to the top, then great. I had a favorite. But mostly these days I just allow myself to enjoy whatever it is I enjoy. And I find myself enjoying a lot more — and different — thing.
So I can relate to, and really appreciate, your idea of cyclicality regarding priorities.
my pastor was raised in africa…he said that the west measured everything in terms of time…when you live in the bush you don’t say hi to your neighbor, you stop, greet and chat…with little concept of time, but rather kindness…
.-= Jim Gray´s last blog ..Breaking News @ 330PM! =-.
I used to view life through the hierarchical manner. Then I began to see life differently. I see life as a bicycle tire with the hub as my life in Christ. Those spokes of my life all branch off that. That one item ought to infect every spoke of my life and every spoke then finds its root back at the hub. I am no longer running around with a mental checklist trying to make sure I have things in order. Good post anne. Will be praying for your trip.
.-= Bill (cycleguy)´s last blog ..The Power of One =-.
I love Paul’s word to the Corinthians when he said “We make it our goal to please Him” {2 Corinthians 5:9}.
The trickle down effect. If the axle’s in place and working well, everything else will revolve in a way that’s in integrity with what we claim is important.
So, yeah, cyclical, not linear.
Now … to live it ….
.-= Linda Stoll´s last blog ..Gen Y’s Money Crisis =-.
I really, Really, REALLY needed to hear this reminder. Muchas Gracias…
I echo Bill (cycleguy).
In the past few months I’ve been thinking in terms of having Jesus at the center and everything else connecting from there. Relationships with family and friends, ministry, work, play and rest all flow out of relationship with Jesus.
A major shift for me has been thinking in terms of Jesus (a person) at the center instead of my faith (an idea). Because Jesus is faithful, he’s there even when my faith isn’t. He can hold the spokes when I they get damaged or wobbly. It might seem like I’m being picky about words, but for me there’s something powerful that shift in my language and thinking.
I don’t yet have it figured out how to do this well, but it feels more stable and healthy than the hierarchal way that I’ve done in the past. And it’s more concrete than thinking of faith in the center.
.-= AprilK´s last blog ..Outgrowing affirmation? =-.
Wow, Anne. Thanks for the metaphor. I’ll be sharing this with my much cycling hubs. He loves to speak in cyclish.
When I lived in Thailand, we spoke of Thai time, quite imprecise by Western standards. Indeed, in many cultures, people seem much less concerned with punctuality and time management. In my own spiritual life, I’ve been trying to focus more on the present moment as the only time there is. Trying to live in the present in an intentional be here now kind of way. Which doesn’t mean that I don’t have plans and appointments, but I try not to live in the future or past. With varying success, to be sure!! This is a great blog. I look forward to reading more! Thank you.
.-= Galen Pealr´s last blog ..Eternity in the Laundry =-.
Oops–can’t spell my own name. That last comment should have been from Galen Pearl!
.-= Galen Pearl´s last blog ..Eternity in the Laundry =-.
i feel like i’ve heard it preached my whole life… the concept of having your priorities in a hierarchical manner, but as i grew closer to God i saw things very differently. A Christ-centered life seems to naturally (or supernaturally) move cyclically. It’s my intention to live this way, though i fall short and get caught up in the mentality that pushes so aggressively and surrounds us all each day.
Great post;)
.-= JuliaKate´s last blog ..Pretty Pink Holsters: a lesson on meekness from Tarantino =-.
I live on adrenalin. We are in ministry, writing, adopting, crazy! Most people think that we are anyway. I think I am learning the value of vacations and time with people that don’t need you, and mindless fun.
But I can see how it happens.
ooh cool thoughts…I’m definitely a linear type of prioritiser…the idea of thinking of them in a cyclical manner is an interesting concept, and definitely worth exploring. I’m feeling the need to simplify at the moment…this might just be what i need to bring change!
.-= Michelle George´s last blog ..Church: it can happen anywhere =-.
I love the bike wheel picture. I definitely view priorities as cyclical and time, well I don’t know if I’ve thought about it that way before now. God is at the center of my life and without His strength, I fail or burn out.
.-= Jenn´s last blog ..Olympic Trip =-.
Well said.
In my first adult Sunday School class, BEFORE I came to the Lord, Harlan did a lesson on this very thing and I’ll remember it always. Do I LIVE it? Not daily, but I DO remember it.
And we SAY it all the time, don’t we? a “Christ-CENTERED” life. What does that mean if not Christ is at the CENTER?
Thanks for laying it out there, Anne. Again. You’re very wise.
Amy
Well said.
In my first adult Sunday School class, BEFORE I came to the Lord, Harlan did a lesson on this very thing and I’ll remember it always. Do I LIVE it? Not daily, but I DO remember it.
And we SAY it all the time, don’t we? a “Christ-CENTERED” life. What does that mean if not Christ is at the CENTER?
Thanks for laying it out there, Anne. Again. You’re very wise.
Back in the day, I used to cycle. One of the things that a cyclist periodically needs to do is to have a tune-up. This means taking your bike to the shop and having a mechanic go over it (okay, I’m lame and couldn’t do this myself), making sure that everything is lubricated, tightened and in right working order. Part of the tune-up is having the mechanic true your wheels. This basically means that they tighten and loosen your spokes, putting them in right alignment.
Your post reminded me of this. Sometimes we need to have the spokes of our life “trued”. The spokes of my life need to be examined and placed in right proportion. I liked your metaphor and liked the word that cyclist use for making sure our wheels are right. We need to make sure that our life is “true.”
It seems like my life has been not much other than cycling the last few months :) So…a natural metaphor!
Love love love this, Anne! And ashamed to admit that while I’ve always talked about keeping Christ as the center, I’ve never viewed my priorities in a cyclical manner. But it describes perfectly what God has been working in my heart over the last several months. For me, a major life change is required to make the switch from hierarchical to cyclical, and that’s what I’m doing. And there is an amazing sense of peace about it. Perhaps that’s because for the first time my life is truly God centered. I’m learning to focus on that core first and foremost and the others as they come around the circle. Since making that decision (and acting on it) to put what is truly most important at the center, I honestly feel like I’m moving forward. And I didn’t realize how stuck I’d felt or how much I wondered where all of the time went. So much to learn! But thanks for putting words to it!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..The Pursuit of Wisdom =-.