The day I turned ten my dad took me to the toy store and let me pick out whatever I wanted for my birthday. I picked out two things, one of which was this game by Milton Bradley:

I can't remember what else I picked out, I think it was Chutes and Ladders with Disney characters, but I definitely remember Park and Shop. We played it all the time. I still had it when I got married and when my children were old enough they fell in love with it, too. It's a simple game - drive to the parking lot, park, walk to each store you've drawn an errand card for, go back to your car, drive home. First one home, wins.

The game is worn - the box gone, the board tattered, the markers, cars, and men are a hodge podge from different games, and the cards are bent and I'm sure there are one or two missing. But we can still play the game.

It was definitely a fun way to learn time management, and cool words like 'haberdashery'. The key was to find the quickest route to get all your errands done. I still think in terms of 'shortest route, quickest way home' whenever I am out and about.

When I think about my busy life - the plans I make, meetings to attend, people to see and the errands that fill my days - I wonder sometimes if the lessons from this simple game might serve me well. In spite of the fulfillment I find in checking off the errands on my list, I find I'm not all that organized. (The nickname "Messy Missy" had to come from somewhere!) More than making lists and checking things off, I need help in determining priorities. What do I do first? What can I skip, or set aside as not important? The game had 'hazard cards' that you drew when you landed on a certain spot on the board. Just like real life, it was always a surprise and interupted whatever plans I made, the errands I needed to run.

A number of years ago, Charles E. Hummel wrote a pamphlet called 'Tyranny of the Urgent'. It's all about how we allow the 'urgent' things in our life to dominate the rest of our plans. I'm the type to get distracted by not only what seems critical right now but the totally irrevelant! I need lists to keep me on track and making sure I do what's important, not just what seems to be screaming at me the loudest.

The house needs cleaned, but should that be done before I write a note to a grieving friend, or take some time in the Word? Have I lived today to the fullest - appreciating all that God has given me and done for me - or am I in the pit of whining about what I don't have, or dreaming of what will be 'someday' and missing what's right in front of me? The apostle Paul talks a lot about contentment - I think I want that - and more! I want to be living every moment - every circumstance - for Him. It's a journey - whether I'm doing the mundane like parking and shopping and running errands - or I'm on a 'more exciting' adventure.

Each day is an opportunity to love Him, live for Him, to be going about His business, not my busy-ness.

All for Him,

Missy

Labels: Missy