Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-008 (Family Issues)

I WISH I HAD THE TIME

This appeared in ALL ABOUT FAMILIES, edited by Norman Bales. He wrote:

Carl Sandburg, the gifted poet, once wrote a poem about a train trip through the corn and soybean fields of Middle America. He recalled riding “one of the crack trains of the nations across the prairie” but he was disturbed by the thought that the train would eventually rest in a scrap pile.

He listened to conversations and paused to reflect on the mortality of the speakers. He pondered their superficial conversations and objectives. “I ask a man where he is going and he answers, ‘Omaha.'” Sandburg’s musings reminded me of my childhood train trips to my “Grammie’s” house.

Sandburg’s thoughts turned on his own goals. He had to do some things in order to make a living. That takes time. He thought about other things he wanted to do, things his conscience said he should be doing. He concluded, “It takes time. I wish I had the time.”

If you look under the “t’s” in my file cabinet, you’ll find a large manila folder bulging with tips on time management. Books on time management take up space on my bookshelves. I’ve even read some of them but I still find myself repeating Carl Sandburg’s excuse – “I wish I had the time.”

As we enter this new year, I want to encourage you to think about how your family fits into your time priorities. Ann and I recently celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary. How quickly those 42 years have passed. Time escaped our grasp like a slippery eel. So many good things have happened to our family in those years that I really don’t have any regrets, but I sometimes feel like I didn’t make the best use of my time. I needed to savor those unrepeatable moments with my children.

Someone said, “Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Only today is ready cash.” How true. We need to take advantage of every day’s opportunity to strengthen our family relationships. Job reminds us, “Man, born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away. Like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.” (Job 14:1-2).

Forty-two years ago, Ann and I boarded the “Bales Family Train.” Later we brought four children on board. We had a great ride for awhile, but the children boarded other family trains. That’s the way it is supposed to be. We’re still riding our train and enjoying the ride, but we’re not headed for Omaha and we’re not going to “Grammie’s” house. We’re going to our Father’s house.

– Norman Bales

————————

To subscribe direct to All About Families, send a message to with the Subject line SUBSCRIBE FAMILY.

E-mail: <> Website: <http://www.allaboutfamilies.org/>