Why I Do Not Commit To Weekly Meetings

I am currently in a season where I wear many hats.

Okay, come to think of it -- I always wear many hats!

I am God's daughter. I am Robert's wife. I have a full-time telecommuting job managing online content. I help my husband in his ministry to high school students in Franklin, TN. I do my best to maintain healthy, active, loving relationships with my family and my best friends. I am trying to make new ones because I am new to this city. I have a heart to mentor high school and college girls in their relationship with Jesus.

When I lived in Manila, I pretty much took on similar roles, if not more.

I don't know about you, but seven days in a week is not a lot. And in my opinion, it can be taxing if I am not intentional about determining my priorities, managing my time, and carefully assessing my commitments.

At the beginning of 2009, I expressed to God my concern on how hectic my schedule felt. It seems like weekly meetings took up most of my time. I could hardly sit back and truly bask in what was most important to me.

This conversation allowed me to hear one important word that my Father was telling me.

SIMPLIFY.

Consequently, this word became the word that defined my 2009 ... and beyond.

First I had to decide which roles I am committed to acting upon daily (in its proper order).

1) I am God's daughter.
2) I am Robert's wife.
3) I am a full-time, work-from-home online content manager.

Just these three roles alone can consume most of my 16 waking hours every single day. I am sure a lot of women can resonate with this.

Therefore, I needed to be more selective on what I commit to on a weekly basis. After a lot of thought and prayer, I knew in my heart that I can only commit to meetings that fully feed my three primary life roles.

1) Worship service -- every Sunday, 10am
2) Youth service -- every Sunday, 6pm
3) Dates with my husband -- we try to change up the day every week but we are intentional about setting aside time for this.

Discipleship groups, social events, and other kinds of meetings are left to attend to every two weeks or once a month. And sometimes, if it can be managed without physical meetings, once every quarter.

It has been two years since I have applied this personal principle and I am the first to "rave" to you that it has done wonders to the quality of my life.

First, I am able to fully focus on the responsibilities that my priorities entail: God, my husband, my home and my job. Second, the more infrequent (but consistent) meetings with people have become more meaningful because there are lot more important things to catch up on.

I am not saying you should replicate my choices on how I approach commitments. But I do encourage you to take some time out of your busy week and discern what your priorities are and what should take up most of your time. It might be the most liberating time-management decision you will ever make.