Love Language: Quality Time Edition

One of the big blessings of this year has been my jobs. Specifically, this one that I’m at right now. Some people might not really consider it much of a job, since it requires little to no work, but I love what I do.

Mind you, I keep myself busy with maintaining at least three streams of income. Some are rivers that run dry occasionally and others are steady, but letting two dogs out from a crate and letting them chase each other to their heart’s content for hours is one of my favorites, regardless of the pay. Firstly, because I see them as practically my own (I’m there a LOT), which makes me happy because I feel like I’m living part of a dream. I find God’s humor in watching them tumble about and look at me with pure and happy eyes, but also because I can sit outside on a screened porch and pull out my Bible, journal and books and simply commune with the God who made me, these bugs, and these puppers.

Admittedly, it is much harder to do in the winter, and this Tennessee humidity is deadly. (I say this as I sit outside sticky with sweat while the dogs run through their door to recuperate from the heat. I like to think of it as training for the World Race.) Nevertheless, I find that in times where I have my seat at this small wooden table, it is worth the temperature.

I find myself to be incredibly blessed to be paid to pet dogs and read the Bible, and I understand that not everyone– or hardly anyone– has time to take from their job and sit down for hours to study what God’s trying to tell them. But, as I’m sure you’ve heard people say, “if you really care about it, you’ll make time for it.” 

That goes for anything. If you want to do something or invest in someone, you have to make the time for it. Admittedly, I’m much better at prioritizing my hobbies and jobs than my people, and that’s bitten me in the butt this year. Should I make it a point to remain consistent with the people close to me? Yes, absolutely. But more important than any earthly relationship, I need to learn to desire investing in the relationship between me and my Creator. And from there, my other relationships should get better, especially those who share the same love for our God.

People say, almost non-stop in Christian communities, to spend a daily dose of your day with God. Sometimes it sounds like the prosperity gospel blended with a TV ad. “Read this book for just five– YES, JUST FIVE!– minutes of your day, and you, YES, YOU! Will instantly have a better life!” But the people who know what it means to spend your time, even if it is five minutes, truly listening to God through His Word, understand that it is a valuable part of your day, and when your mind has made time to think on things that are above the pettiness and pain that the world has to offer, life does seem to get better. We have a higher understanding, a bigger-than-our-problems mindset. It’s very freeing, guys. 10/10 would recommend.

Now, granted: Pain doesn’t go away. Conflict doesn’t resolve itself. Incompetence and rude customers and hateful professors and ungrateful children will remain ever-present on this earth. This is not the prosperity gospel. Things still suck. But, my fellow homies, doesn’t it feel so good to have the patience of Christ? To have some gentleness and kindness placed in our hearts as the day trudges on? Our shoulders get a little lighter, our eyes get a little brighter, and our hearts become open to the opportunities surrounding us. 

Now, I could turn this into a book-sized devotional that discusses the benefits of healthy habits and the crazy results of getting up at 5am to read three pages of your Bible daily, but I shall refrain. I’m sure you’re just as tired of hearing that as I am. I could exhort you to turn off the music while you drive and listen to the silence waiting for God to speak, or turn on the audiobook setting of your Bible app and listen to Leviticus as you’re on your way to work, but I’m not. Those are all great things, but ideas that I think have been pushed onto us so constantly that it makes time with the Triune God seem like a chore. Instead, look for God in the little things.

God is beautiful, yes. He’s great and you totally should spend lots of your time reading the Bible and searching for the answers to your doubts and curiosities. But notice that in every thing you do, God has the opportunity to be present. Please take that opportunity. Show kindness. Be generous. Listen well. Give hugs or don’t give hugs (sometimes you need them, sometimes you don’t). Clamp your jaw and refrain from slander or gossip. Look up from your phone and take note of the weather that God chose for your city that day. Smile. Pet a dog and thank the owner for such a wonderful experience they allowed you to have. Yeah, we’ll mess up. There are lists on lists of things we do that are moments where we mess up. But in those moments that we mess up, we have a God who is literally all around us who is ready to provide grace. And since he’s everywhere, it would be rude (and quite foolish) of us not to say hello every now and again. 

I could write on and on. But I’ve already given you a call to action so I’ll stop. Go say hello to God, and get to know him. Chances are he’s looking for a cool person to befriend, and you’re exactly what he has in mind.