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Fitting It All In


My day typically starts around 6am. I get up, shave, get dressed and then I spend some time reading. Then I get my things together for the day and pack my lunch so I have only healthy choices to eat. After that, I’ll write a note of gratitude and then it’s off to the gym. On the way to the gym, I listen to podcasts or books, something very intentional to educate and enlighten me. I continue to listen as I warm up and prepare for that day’s workout. After a good warm-up, I’ll work out for an hour or so, pushing it as hard as I can, and then do 20-30 min of stretching and mobility work while I again listen to whatever book I’m currently engaged in. Might as well stretch myself mentally as I stretch my muscles, right?

Once I’m done with that, I’ll shower, get dressed and head to the office where I again spend some time reading and writing before I jump into the day. At this point, I’ve been up for about four hours, but I haven’t had to “react” to anything, everything has been intentional, directed action up to this point. Then I start making calls and prepare for appointments. Only after a couple hours of more “proactive” work do I typically start to “react” and answer emails and return phone calls.

After dozens of phone calls and emails along with several meetings, I usually wrap up my day between 4-5pm and head home, again, listening to a book along the way. I get home, say hi to the family, catch up briefly on the day’s events and then I get my things ready for the next day: iron my clothes, pack my gym bag, get my workout drinks formulated and set aside the next day’s vitamins. Then it’s time for dinner and hanging out with the family. We spend a couple hours in family time before transitioning into the bedtime routine which consists of reading out of a book we have selected as a family and then out of the Bible as well. That takes us to about 8:30 and then it’s off to bed for the kids and my wife and I get to hang out for a little bit. I’ll read for another couple hours or so then I stop fighting sleep and tuck myself in to recharge for the day ahead.

That’s an average day, 6am-10:30pm with little downtime or wasted effort. Productive, efficient and no dillydallying. A couple hours at the gym, a solid workday, a few hours of family time and 3-4 hours minimum of learning and education. What’s missing? Silence. If I am not careful, I neglect to take time out of the day to be quiet and calmly listen to my soul.

I have been so concerned with learning how to grind and push myself, being “productive,” I often forget to rest and spend time intentionally reflecting. All too easily, I can miss the “still, small voice” inside.

I’ve learned God doesn’t always speak to us in the whirlwind as he did with Job. He doesn’t necessarily call to us in the wind, or in an earthquake or in the fire. Yes, sometimes He does shake us up to get our attention, but often because we haven’t been paying attention. If we are careful and quiet, we can listen to His whisper in the “still, small voice.” But we must take time to be still and silent to hear Him call.

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