Book Report: Shopping for Time

Note: Shopping for Time is by Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, and Janelle Bradshaw. All of those names were too long to fit in the post title!

Several months back, Travis and I were feeling the effects of being overcommitted. We were tired and at times overwhelmed. It’s cliché, I know. These days the pat answer anytime you ask someone how things are going is, “Busy.” Isn’t that what we all say? Aren’t we all trying to strike some sort of balance and tackle the to-do list, pour into relationships, serve others and God well, and still have time for some fun and relaxation?

Being the introverts that we are, Travis and I definitely seek out down time/alone time a fair amount. We are “sit on the porch/sip coffee/write in a journal and watch the squirrels scamper by” kind of people. We love quiet. We love to ponder. Etc. And we wrestle with whether or not that’s legit, and wonder if we’re simply doing what we need to do to stay healthy, or if at times we’re being selfish and not giving our time to others enough. A question that has yet to be fully answered...   

So as I said, this past winter/spring we were feeling overcommitted and like we didn’t know how to manage our time well, and this led a friend from church to give me a copy of Shopping For Time to read. A pastor’s wife and her daughters wrote this book together, and the premise is that we often just “let life happen,” do what feels good at the moment, and forget to evaluate the use of our time in light of biblical priorities. And in reality, most of us need to be deliberate and we need to plan. Not a novel concept, but a necessary one nonetheless.   

Shopping For Time is a quick read and one that I can’t say I absolutely loved, but certainly did find to be encouraging in some ways. The full title is “Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed.” I kind of roll my eyes at the “do it all” bit because I’m not so sure that that’s possible. Does anybody really “do it all”? Or if they do, is “it” being done well? Skeptical...

But with that small criticism out of the way, let’s talk about some of the helpful points that I pulled from the text. The parts in colored italics are not from the book at all. It’s just my commentary. Starting with the practical...

• There are “good things” and “best things.” Oftentimes the “good things” distract us from the “best things.” Note that the difference between the two can change depending on what season of life you’re in.
• There’s a lot to be said for being an early riser and the productivity it allows for. After many years of being a night owl, I find myself gradually crossing over into the morning person camp. I did not think that this would happen in my lifetime, but I am pleasantly surprised by the development!
• When making changes to your priorities, schedule, etc. don’t try to change in every area all at once. In other words, baby steps, people! Change does not happen overnight. 
• Schedule tasks that require more intense thinking or energy for the earlier part of the day, and tasks that are less intense or “mindless” for the latter part of the day. Do you hear that, Procrastinatey Self?

Now on to the more important stuff (i.e. time management and your relationship with God)...

• We forget that we’re not in charge: “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) 
• We must sit before we do. It is necessary to spend time with Jesus and receive our good portion first from Him, because “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) But it’s also vitally important to remember that we don’t gain or lose God’s approval in light of our ability to give time to Him. This is a basic point for us Christians. But how often do we forget it? If you’re anything like me, it’s pretty often...
• Set your priorities based on God’s Word, and not cultural or personal preferences.  Consider whether or not your activities and relationships bring glory to God. Does my over-the-top list-writing bring glory to God? Hmm...
• Size up your limitations and plan to depend on Him: “Only God gets his to-do list done each day. We are not God. We are finite creatures with serious limitations.” Incredibly valid point here. I’ve realized in the past year that I just plop things on my to-do list without even consulting God. I’m learning that I need to allow Him to be a much more integral part of even the mundane, daily, and ordinary aspects of my life. He is far wiser than I am, so why don’t I ask Him first? I mean, He created me. He’s the one with the instruction manual titled “Jillian Faith Black, ver. 9.8.1983,” you know?  

And this excerpt sums it all up really well...

“In the end, our highest goal each day is not flawless execution of our plans or increased productivity. It’s our relationship with God, walking in dependence upon him throughout the day. We should not be more consumed with the completion of our to-do list than pleasing and glorifying the Savior...We don’t evaluate our priorities, consider relationships, and simplify tasks merely to avoid being overwhelmed. We do it so that our manner of life would be worthy of the gospel. We do it because, by God’s amazing grace, we can live a life worthy of the gospel.”

Amen. So I just threw a bunch of random, perhaps not-so-clear thoughts your way, but I hope that my sharing a little bit from Shopping for Time gives you something positive to chew on as you approach your own schedule, to-do lists, etc. There’s a good chance that I won’t ever find an exact balance as my life shifts and moves forward and I am confronted with my own weaknesses. But this book refocused me on the fact that it’s so much more important to be in relationship with Him. So I will set my sights on seeking Him first, knowing that everything else will fall where it rightly belongs thereafter. And thank goodness that we have a God who gets his to-do list done everyday. We can trust in Him.