In the morning before a medical appointment, I am thinking about my doctor. She has a busy practice. To see her, requires making an appointment six months ahead.
I was curious as to how she lives a life amidst the demands of serving so many people.
So I asked her. Even though I knew insurance only paid for a 30 minute visit when we would need an hour.
She answered my question anyway. She generously shared the skill that allows her to thrive: it is to be fully engaged in the work of the moment. Or, more in her words, When I'm at work, I'm full in. When I leave work, I leave it behind.
And she does what she does while raising eight children.
When with her patients, she really listens.
When with her children and family she is just as devoted. But she had to learn to divide this devotion. Often she would be busy at home and a child would come to her with a need. At first she was torn, but her intuition, her guidance from God, reminded her that she needed to care for that child. When she followed the prompting, she felt like God made up for the difference. He consecrated her time. The task she put on hold to spend with a child became easier or its priority shifted.
I've always loved the biblical story of the five loaves and two fishes. I've thought of it literally: when we share food, we will always have enough. When I fed my children's hungry friends, there was always more than plenty.
I've also applied the story of loaves and fishes to talents--that if we prioritize God's work, our talents will be multiplied. But I've never thought of loaves and fishes as applied to time. If we give our time wholeheartedly, we will find more or make better use of our time, or accomplish with less time what needs to be done.
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