Sometime around 4:00 am I woke up and realized I hadn’t heard my opportunity clock that goes off at 3:43. Oh no. 15 minutes of my morning routine lost! And I can’t get it back. But it’s only 15 minutes … that made me think about what can happen in 15 minutes. I live in Michigan. What do they say about weather in Michigan? “If you don’t like the weather, wait 15 minutes. It will change.” When we’re trying to lose weight, what does the nutritionist say about gauging hunger? “Wait 15 minutes to be sure you’re really hungry before eating again.” Scientists tell us that an hour’s worth of exercise every day, broken into 15 minute increments is still effective.” Fifteen minutes. Out of a 24 hour period, 15 minutes seems insignificant, but can be used to great benefit.
Have you ever read the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible? It’s kind of depressing actually. You know all that talk about ‘vanity, vanity, all is vanity’ of Ecclesiastes 3. OK so that’s not so interesting but that chapter also talks a lot about time – you know, that commodity that there is never enough of it. Well – unless you’re doing some mundane task that seriously drags out 2 hours to feel like 6. But I digress. Have you ever wondered, as I have, how God created time, but he doesn’t use it …. at least not the same time that we use. Let’s take a look at Ecclesiastes 9:11” I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and opportunity happen to them all.” Maybe way back in the days of the sundial, 15 minute increments were ignored, maybe not. 
Fifteen minute increments through the day can be meaningless or constructive. Fifteen minutes can be nothing … or everything. Zig Ziglar used to ask the question, “Are you a wandering generality or a meaningful specific?” The point he was making surrounded goal setting, but in the short time we have each day the implications are broad. We all need time to relax, downtime, give our brains a rest. My doctor told me when we sleep our brain heals. We also need rest for our physical bodies, and we need time to renew and regenerate our spirits too. Relaxation is not wasting time; we need to do that.
Fifteen minutes though. If you have 15 minutes you can encourage, bless, and bring joy to another person. Write an email to them, or send a card, call someone on the phone, pray for 15 people, write a note for a family member and leave it where they can see it, text a message to a friend – a few friends, stop – think – do. Your fifteen minutes will be compounded, because someone you cared for will be encouraged to pass it on to someone else. It can be your own version of going viral. Fifteen minutes can be nothing … or everything.
Here’s what I think about going viral: Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Choose a time today – just 15 minutes – change someone’s day and change your own.
Here I Am – by Rebecca St. James – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRPebVXFE-o
Because of Grace we Press On
As usual, great blog. I’ve been working so hard, If I take a few minutes to decompress, I feel guilty. Really, I did it today inspite of the guilt, and now I feel as if I had time for God myself to connect. I have had rest, if only for a bit.
Fern, you’re so conscientious. I want you to consider this truth though. You already know this but it’s so important. You need time with God and with yourself. If you give out and never take in you’ll be drained and have nothing more to give. How can I pray for you? Can I help you? I worked way too many hours for too many years. I know exactly how you feel. But get your rest and take time with God. I find it most helpful to write prayers to God and choose a couple verses to write out, then read them a few times. Just 15 minutes is a good start. You need to fill your spirit so you aren’t depleted and can be your best.
Jane, thank you for reminding us how valuable a 15 minute time slot can be if it’s used to encourage someone. And spending that time in the Word is gold too.
Blessings ~ Wendy
Thank you for your note, Wendy. When I start walking circles around myself thinking I don’t have enough time to do anything I remind myself of what one or two things I can do in a very short time period. Almost always write a card to someone, pray or read a Psalm or Philippians, my favorite.