I call it time management, He calls it stewardship.

I read a little book that changed my life last week. No, not the Bible, though that, too. This one is called A Life God Rewards by Bruce Wilkinson, and I'm going to unabashedly sing its praises.

Here's a picture, because I like to have color on my blog. And here's a link, in case you want to check it out for yourself. I have no affiliation with Dr. Wilkinson--simply great admiration.

Now let me tell you how this book changed my life.

I'm new enough at this re-activated Christian living that I'm still dealing with tons of old garbage. There are, of course, the ever-present results of past decisions that were made without the benefit of the Lord's guidance--those products of my own rebellion, in other words. No need to elaborate there. And as if gut-wrenching soul-searching weren't enough, there's always the office: my previous stint as self-directed creativity coach produced an enormous pile of papers to sort through and obligations to meet, some of which have nothing to do with my present life but which must be cleanly dealt with before I can move on in the direction I now feel led. Transition: in music, my dictionary says, it's a "momentary modulation." Let's hope so.

This little book came like a piercing ray of sunshine. Although it presents a complex message to which I cannot do justice by merely describing it, I can share with you one aspect that touched me, and touched me deeply. It introduced into my thinking the concept of stewardship.

The definition of steward that's important in this context is "a person responsible for managing another's property." I've certainly heard all my life that everything I have is on loan from the Lord. And it's been just another homily I never paid much attention to. Let me repeat: EVERYTHING YOU OWN IS ON LOAN.

My house, my husband, my dog, my gifts and abilities, my view of the sea, every slip of paper on which I've scribbled a To-Do list...Everything is given to me by the Lord to take care of for Him. He has given to me according to my abilities, and as I show that I can take care of more, He will give me more. He wants me to invest and multiply His property for Him in the special way He has in mind for me. I'm beginning to glimpse what living for God actually means, and how it impacts on my eternal life.

The moment I put the book down, I could see that my entire attitude toward my daily activities had changed irreversibly. Every moment is now suffused with awareness of stewarding for God.

Shaping a life of creativity and prosperity without the Lord is the most shallow and meaningless of human endeavors. It is also a perilous way to live. If you've never reflected on the depth of what you're doing here and how you will be rewarded (or not), please read what Dr. Wilkinson has to say. His full message draws directly on Scripture; there is no way I can replicate it here.

What I can do, however, is move resoltuely through my piles and obligations and present results until the filing system of my life is in order. And this is finally a joy.

One more thing, though, and a surprising thing it was to me, is that the space reserved in my head for my writing has become delightfully crystalline. The piles of paper don't weigh it down, the murky To-Do lists don't cloud its clarity. It is the Lord's property, and as I surrender everything I "own" to Him, as I transfer my allegiance from the things of this world to the kingdom of God, He is making sure that I can do what I've been charged to do.

I'm beginning to realize that my greatest task as a fiction writer is learning to convey the sheer thrill of following Christ. Stay tuned.

But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Luke 12:31)

Comments

[Victoria on Okinawa]

I posted a comment last week here but it seems to have disappeared. I don't remember all that I wrote then, but I did order the book, dvd, and study book under this title, "A Life God Rewards". Looking forward to receiving them in the mail next month. Thank you for your recommendation and I like all the other books I have read before that are by Dr Wilkinson too. Durga, your writing is so encouraging and so real. Thank you.
CnJ, Victoria on Okinawa<><>

[Tom Atkins]

Very inspiring dear Durga, and it makes me want to go read the book!

Hope all is well. I'll write soon!

Tom