As I write this blog it is not clear if it will be the Baltimore Ravens or the San Francisco 49ers that win. We will all know for sure by this evening when the Super Bowl XLVII goes in to the history books. Then all of the preparation, all of the planning all of the strategy will have prepared the victors to cheer and the losers to lament.

The Super Bowl is serious business for many. The food industry, the venues where countless enthusiasts will gather to cheer, boo and comment on the plays made by the teams coached by the Harbaugh brothers. From the main arena in Louisiana to the individual meeting spots all across the States, to the military stationed in other parts of the world an abundance of attention is focused on this sporting event. Millions of dollars and untold hours – I even find myself parked in front of the television to see the spectacle unfold, when in many prior years I was in deliberate indifference.

I wonder if we could count the cost of our collective time and energy spent on this pastime we would consider it appropriate. Not that I have anything against spectator sport; I long for balance. If we knew how much time was spent on this endeavor then we could get a detailed pie chart or Android app that would give us clear, at a glance data about how an increase in other activities would move us closer to acquiring a healthy balance in our lives. As I think about it, there probably is a way to post our schedules, add up the minutes and then compare activities.

Given the opportunity to run the numbers would you take the recommendations given by the application and increase time spent on activities that will increase your well-being by creating the balance you desire and deserve? Or perhaps if you could even know how to order activities to ensure that you would have the time to take care of Super Bowl games and whatever else you need to get done on your busy schedule, would you use that app?

Well I have an idea how you can get that information without having the latest technology at your fingertips. If you are truly interested, you already have the most sophisticated, super computer known to man at your disposal on a daily basis; your brain. You can make a good estimate of how your time has been used by taking a couple of moments and meditating on your time this past week. Compare the activities. As a check register or record of financial transactions shows where your budget actually went. Your mental tracking will be a clear indicator of how your scheduled time actually flowed.

Now that you have that information, take a look at this note from your maker, in the book of Matthew in chapter six and verse thirty-three. There you will find this instruction, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (King James Version) or in the Amplified Version, “But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.” And in The Message beginning in verse thirty and ending in thirty-three, “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

Take Inventory and Take Action! How will your life – the non-spectator sport end? There is still time for you to practice and prepare. What will the score be for your? What will your trophy look like? Remember how hard the players practiced once they knew they had qualified for the big game! You have the same opportunity to walk away with a trophy! Are you willing to do the work and put in the time? Will you be deliberately indifferent?

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”