Getting Out of the Fast Lane

by HJS

More and more of life is lived in the fast lane. Many will take precious hours from you in the form of phone calls, interruptions, and endless detours. How do you get out of the fast lane?

GUIDELINE 1: Have a plan and stay with your plan. You can't do everything, so list the "must do" items in one column, "should do" in another, and the "can do" in the third. Begin with the most important "must do" item and stay with that until you are finished.

GUIDELINE 2: Prioritize what isn't negotiable - time with your spouse, family and God. At heaven's door, you won't be asked how much time you spent at the office, but your relationships and how you've spent your time will all be on the docket.

GUIDELINE 3: Simplify, simplify, simplify. Having more doesn't always satisfy; having less usually simplifies.

GUIDELINE 4: Make every day count. That was exactly the point that Moses made when he wrote, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" (Psalm 90:12 KJV).

The person who lives judiciously knows that the days of our years are numbered, and that's why he strives to make each one count, waiting on God at the beginning of every day to know how to live with purpose and meaning.

GUIDELINE 5: To the degree that you can, live every day without regrets. You should so live that when you die, even the undertaker would be sorry.

GUIDELINE 6: Slow down and enjoy the flowers. You have no second chances for some things. So say it now, write it now, enjoy it now, and leave tomorrow in God's hands. 

Put your house in order, because you are going to die. . . .   ISAIAH 38:1