Time to think offers the space to assess opportunities that lie ahead and unleash the creative side within us. Too much time to think also can be tortuous if we have unresolved issues lurking.
It makes sense how we often welcome the various distractions a day can bring — at least then we have an excuse not to deal with the situation, emotion or other item that needs our attention.
Sometimes we stay busy to avoid mourning and the intense pain of grief. Sometimes we seek distractions to put off an overwhelming task or decision.
In some cases, we really don’t know what to do or who to ask for help. In other cases, we know exactly what the problem is and what we need to do, but we’ve adjusted to coping with our conviction.
At least we think we are coping — the minute our distractions cease, the issue emerges from the crevices of our minds and stares us right in the face.
And here we are again at a crossroads — deal with it for real this time or grab hold of a another distraction to numb the pain or provide an excuse.
The problem with this type of distraction-based strategy is that we are only making the issue worse. We will have to face it and deal with it at some point.
Continuing to put it off only prevents us from finding freedom from it earlier rather than later — and potentially hurts more people (or hurts them more deeply) in the process.
I’m sure you’ve guessed where I’m headed with this conversation with our current cleared calendars and restricted opportunities because of the COVID-19 situation.
How will we handle the extra time to think right now?
Will we take the opportunity in a positive direction and avoid grasping for new distractions, or will we determine to give in to our fears and hopelessness?
TAB Media board of directors vice chairman and longtime minister Gary Fenton shared his suggestion recently:
“Hope is both a gift and a discipline. Hope is a gift from God that is occasionally experienced spontaneously, but we are more likely to experience hope when we are intentional about what we think.
“Normally work and school responsibilities determine much of our thought life, but now that few of us are working or attending school, we have much more time to think about whatever we want.
“Our thoughts are being driven by what we feel, what we watch and what we read rather than by our responsibilities.
“To experience hope daily, watch and read less from the media. Instead, read and listen to material that stimulates hope.
“As one of my favorite authors says, ‘whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.’
“Let’s change our thoughts and make hope a permanent fixture in our soul. By the way, the quote is from a really good book that I think you will want to read.”
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