We are taught to spend our lives on things that matter- things that are of eternal worth. While I know this is true, sometimes I have a horrible habit of wasting my time on totally insignificant things.
Today, I spent about an hour and ten minutes waiting in line to get my car washed at one of those automatic car washing machines. Why did so many people in Woodbridge need to get their cars washed TODAY? There were about 15 cars ahead of me, I knew the line was too long when I got into it. However, I was desparate, the car was filthy after our recent snow. Due to my windshield wiper fluid not working (the bottle is leaking), the front window was quite dirty and I could barely see out of it. So I felt I had to get the car washed today- or else! In addition, I wasn't tired and it was light outside. Usually I will procrastinate these things after work as I am tired or feel it is too cold. So I spent the time in line reading the newspaper and practicing the songs for our stake choir tomorrow. Well, I finally got a clean car even though it was dark by the time it was my turn.
And if you think that's bad, back in December, I truly wasted my time one night. During December, we went caroling to a nursing home with our activity day girls. As part of that, the girls were going to wear these jingle bell necklaces that we had made in an activity. They were small (3/4 inch) bells on curling ribbon. Some of the girls hadn't finished their necklaces, so I was finishing them. Also, since we'd made the original batch of jingle bell necklaces, I had found fancier bells and this lovely metallic ribbon. So at about 1AM Saturday night, I had made the additional necklaces, probably around 15. Then my nice pile of necklaces mysteriously got ALL TANGLED UP. So from about 3:30 AM to 5AM, I was sitting on the floor and struggling to untangle them! Sometime into this project, I wondered why am I sitting on the floor in the middle of the night and untangling these jingle bell necklaces. And for my efforts, I only managed to untangle about 2 or 3 of the necklaces.
Luckily, the next day at church, one of my visiting teachers offered to help untangle the remaining necklaces. Amazingly, she succeeded, along with the help of two other sisters. She brought the untangled necklaces into my primary class room. The two girls in the class wanted to get their necklace- so they did. And guess what? Those crazy metallic jingle bell necklaces returned to their tangled state! I felt bad for taking those sisters from their other obligations, but I appreciated their willingness to help with my dilemna.
Still, despite the fact the activity day girls enjoyed the necklaces, I realized in some ways I had wasted time.
When it comes time for me to die, if I were to be given an additional one hour and thirty minutes to live, would I want to spend that time untangling those necklaces? Would I want to spend one hour and ten minutes waiting in line to get my car washed? Nope to both. Though both are needed tasks, there are more efficient ways in which to accomplish those tasks.
Sometimes we need to relax and not do anything. Much of the time, I am good at wasting my time. As time is such a precious commodity, one that they say cannot be bought or sold, I do hope to make better use of the gift of life and of time, in better managing my time.
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