Welcome to “Tuesday Morning”—excellent reading designed to inspire your life and ministry.

 

“I Shall Return” is a phrase from World War II that is attributed to General Douglas MacArthur. The phrase itself, coming at the end of a brief speech to reporters shortly after his escape from Corregidor and his arrival in Australia, is one of the most memorable statements by an American military leader in the 20^th Century. Here is the full statement:

 

“The President of the United States ordered me to break through the Japanese lines and proceed from Corregidor to Australia for the purpose, as I understand it, of organizing the American offensive against Japan, a primary objective of which is the relief of the Philippines. I came through and I shall return.”

 

Had he not returned to the Philippines, his speech would have been easily forgotten. But he returned.

 

In May I notified my readers I was about to begin a brief “sabbatical” to rehab following rotator-cuff surgery. Many of the subscribers wrote to say they would be praying for me. I thank each one who did so. I was unable to use the computer for nearly two months. My “I shall return” message was not as earth-shaking as the one by General MacArthur, but I meant it just as sincerely. I’m back.

 

My first “Tuesday Morning” is entitled “Time Management.” It is attached. Open it whenever you are ready, and consider making changes in your life and work that will result in greater effectiveness.

 

It occurred to me that some of my readers might like to take their own “sabbatical” from reading my weekly missives. If this is true for you, reply to this message with the instruction, “Unsubscribe, please.” It shall be done. But you will be missed.

 

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

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Time Management

Tom Barnard

 

n 1999 I received from a pastor/friend the following story about time management. It deserves to be told again, so here it is—for you. The author is unknown, but the truth of this illustration is both known and timeless. Enjoy.

 

A teacher wished to demonstrate to her class a basic principle of time management. To do so, she placed on the desk in front of her an empty gallon jar and proceeded to fill it with fist-sized rocks. Then she asked the class, “Would you say this jar is full?” The students answered in concert, “Yes!”

 

Then from beneath her desk she brought out a pail containing small gravel and proceeded to pour the gravel over the rocks in the jar, shaking it and causing the gravel to settle into the spaces between the rocks. When the jar was full, she asked the students again, “Now would you say the jar is full?” Not wanting to look foolish, most of the students said nothing but kept their eyes glued on the teacher.

 

Next she produced another pail—this one filled with sand—and repeated the procedure, until the sand filtered through the gravel and rocks, filling the jar to the top. Then she asked her class again, “Now would you say the jar is full?” By now, no one dared to venture a word, nodding their heads in silent agreement.

 

Finally, from beneath the desk the teacher lifted a pitcher of water and began to pour slowly, until the jar was filled to the brim. Then she turned to the class and asked, “What is the point of this story?”

 

Several students offered their opinions—none of which satisfied the teacher. Then she said, “Most of you thought the point of the illustration was that no matter how much you fill your day with activities, you can always manage to add something to your schedule. Right?” the teacher said. “Wrong!” she answered, before anyone could utter a word. “The point of this demonstration about time management is that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

 

The lesson for me is clear: If I fail to prioritize my day and do only the expedient or comfortable things, at the end of the day I may find that I completely missed doing the truly important things.

 

I can’t add anything to that parable from life. Except this prayer, “Lord, help me discern the important from the unimportant things in my life, and help me discipline my time in such a way as to do the first things…first.

 

Where does a person begin in terms of improving their personal or professional management of time? The starting point is to ask questions of yourself: What are my priorities for this day, this week, and this month? Rank them in order, with highest priority first. How am I spending my typical day? List for one day the ways you invested your time that day: How much time did you spend on the phone? How much time did you spend at the computer? How many meetings did you attend that day? How much time did you invest in building relationships with colleagues, with family, and with God? Start there, and then start filling your “jar”—with the highest priority first.