Last week I did an exercise with the students in my class (I am teaching the upper primary class in Lim Ah Pin). They were given a sheet of paper to tally how many hours they spent on Saturday playing, watching TV, reading, doing their homework and chores, praying, reading the Bible and other activities.
Most of the students spent less than an hour out of the 15 waking hours doing something for God. In fact, most of them spent less than half an hour. They only made it past an hour when I added chores as something you do for God (because it's part of honouring their parents I think).
But I think often we older youth are all the more guilty of spending less and less time on God. On Saturdays, I spend about four hours cleaning. Another four hours or so reading or doing things that I didn't have time to do during the week (like filing my bank correspondence or writing letters). This month, I have also spent a lot of time preparing for my classes, on average about five hours. So I guess that is good. And thanks to Jon, there is usually something on at church on Saturday that I take part in. So far, I think my weekends are pretty balanced.
Lately, however, the weekdays have been merging into an endless work blur. My editor recently said to me, "Joan, after a while work and life just merge into one." I protested at that, but I realise it has become true. Apart from the occasional run in the morning, the time I try to allot to Bible study (but usually fail) and my eating and showers, there seems to be no time to do anything else. I've been working longer and longer hours as the workload increases.
To that end, I am now making a resolution to spend less time at work. To try harder to make the work-life balance an actual balance instead of a permanently upended scale. And I suppose for those who are studying, it becomes a study-life balance. Count the hours and see whether it's worth it. Because ultimately, there is no earth-heaven balance. It's eternity.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
I was testing the children in my Sunday school class to see if they understood the concept of getting to heaven.
I asked them, "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage saleand gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?"
"NO!" the children answered.
"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?"
Again, the answer was, "NO!"
By now I was starting to smile. Hey, this was fun!
"Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children and loved my husband,would that get me into Heaven?"I asked them again.
Again, they all answered, "NO!"
I was just bursting with pride for them.
"Well," I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"
A five-year-old boy shouted out,"YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!"
Just for laughs =)Lessons we can learn
EACH PERSON WHO ENTERS OUR LIFE HAS A UNIQUE LESSON TO TEACH US.
And it is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people, relationships and God.
WHEN SOMEONE LIES TO YOU, it teaches you that things are not always as they seem.The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look masks people wear if you want to know their heart.And remove your own masks to let people know yours.
WHEN SOMEONE STEALS FROM YOU, it teaches you that nothing is forever. Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might lose it. And never, ever take your friends and family for granted because today is the only guarantee you have.
WHEN SOMEONE INFLICTS AN INJURY UPON YOU, it teaches you that the human state is a fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best you can, it's the only thing you are sure to have forever.
WHEN SOMEONE MOCKS YOU, it teaches you that no two people are alike. When you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them by how they look or act; instead base your opinion on the contents of their heart.
WHEN SOMEONE BREAKS YOUR HEART, it teaches you that loving someone does not always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your back on love because when you find the right person, the joy that one person brings will make up for all the past hurts put together. A hundredfold!
WHEN SOMEONE HOLDS A GRUDGE AGAINST YOU, it teaches you that everyone makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is the most difficult and courageous thing Man can do.
WHEN A LOVED ONE IS UNFAITHFUL TO YOU, it teaches you that resisting temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your existance against all temptation. By doing so you will be rewarded with an enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure by which you were tempted.
WHEN SOMEONE CHEATS ON YOU, it teaches you that greed is the root of all evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may be. Do not feel guilty about our success, but never let an obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.
WHEN SOMEONE RIDICULES YOU, it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control. Man's capacity to love is the greatest gift he has. At the root of all kindness is love.
EACH ACT OF LOVE ALSO TEACHES US A LESSON.
WHEN SOMEONE LOVES US, it teaches us that love, kindness, charity, honesty, humility, forgiveness and acceptance can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused. When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence, CONSIDER WHAT YOUR LESSON WILL BE. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality? When you die will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting? More comfort or pain? More joy or sadness?Each one of us has power over the balance of love in the world. Use it wisely. Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right direction. "A man can't stop people from having a bad opinion about him but he can stop them from being right."
And it is only through these lessons that we learn about life, people, relationships and God.
WHEN SOMEONE LIES TO YOU, it teaches you that things are not always as they seem.The truth is often far beneath the surface. Look masks people wear if you want to know their heart.And remove your own masks to let people know yours.
WHEN SOMEONE STEALS FROM YOU, it teaches you that nothing is forever. Always appreciate what you have, for you never know when you might lose it. And never, ever take your friends and family for granted because today is the only guarantee you have.
WHEN SOMEONE INFLICTS AN INJURY UPON YOU, it teaches you that the human state is a fragile one. Protect and take care of your body as best you can, it's the only thing you are sure to have forever.
WHEN SOMEONE MOCKS YOU, it teaches you that no two people are alike. When you encounter people who are different from you, don't judge them by how they look or act; instead base your opinion on the contents of their heart.
WHEN SOMEONE BREAKS YOUR HEART, it teaches you that loving someone does not always mean that person will love you back. But don't turn your back on love because when you find the right person, the joy that one person brings will make up for all the past hurts put together. A hundredfold!
WHEN SOMEONE HOLDS A GRUDGE AGAINST YOU, it teaches you that everyone makes mistakes. When you are wronged, the most virtuous thing you can do is forgive the offender without pretense. Forgiving those who have hurt us is the most difficult and courageous thing Man can do.
WHEN A LOVED ONE IS UNFAITHFUL TO YOU, it teaches you that resisting temptation is Man's greatest challenge. Be vigilant in your existance against all temptation. By doing so you will be rewarded with an enduring sense of satisfaction far greater than the temporary pleasure by which you were tempted.
WHEN SOMEONE CHEATS ON YOU, it teaches you that greed is the root of all evil. Aspire to make your dreams come true, no matter how lofty they may be. Do not feel guilty about our success, but never let an obsession with achieving your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.
WHEN SOMEONE RIDICULES YOU, it teaches you that nobody is perfect. Accept people for their merits and be tolerant of their flaws. Do not ever reject someone for imperfections over which they have no control. Man's capacity to love is the greatest gift he has. At the root of all kindness is love.
EACH ACT OF LOVE ALSO TEACHES US A LESSON.
WHEN SOMEONE LOVES US, it teaches us that love, kindness, charity, honesty, humility, forgiveness and acceptance can counteract all the evil in the world. For every good deed, there is one less evil deed. Man alone has the power to control the balance between good and evil, but because the lessons of love are not taught often enough, the power is too often abused. When you enter someone's life, whether by plan, chance or coincidence, CONSIDER WHAT YOUR LESSON WILL BE. Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality? When you die will your life have resulted in more loving or hurting? More comfort or pain? More joy or sadness?Each one of us has power over the balance of love in the world. Use it wisely. Don't miss an opportunity to nudge the world's scale in the right direction. "A man can't stop people from having a bad opinion about him but he can stop them from being right."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)