Stewardship Tip June 2008

Stewarding the “little scraps of time”

What are you doing with your “little scraps of time”? We all have them – those few minutes waiting in the car to pick up a child after soccer practice or standing in the check-out line at the grocery store, that quarter of an hour before the shuttle arrives or between meetings or in the doctor’s waiting room before an appointment… Are you a good steward of those unplanned moments or impatient at the “waste of time”? Each of us has only a precious 1440 minutes each day – and we can’t beg, borrow, or steal even a single second more! So how can we be good stewards of each irreplaceable moment? Here are a few ideas to spur your thinking:

Keep a prayer book or devotional guide (My Daily Visitor, published by Our Sunday Visitor is a good one) and/or a rosary in the car to turn waiting time into prayer time. Also keep close at hand that current magazine you just can’t get around to reading, a book that can be read in “bits and snatches,” and a pad of paper to jot down inspirations – or items to add to your “to do” list.

Perhaps you like Sudoku or crossword puzzles, but don’t ordinarily let yourself take the time to do them… Here’s your chance to sneak in a few moments of mental gymnastics! And carrying a small bag of materials with you means that a plane that arrives a few minutes late can become a few extra stitches of hand-work – a quilt square completed or another row or two of a knitting project – rather than a time of fretful clock-watching.

That irritating fellow with twenty items in the “12 Items Only” line at the supermarket can be an invitation to practice patience. Try saying a silent prayer for him and whatever burdens he’s carrying – and maybe even allow the person with just one item to slip in ahead of you, too.

It is good for mind and body to use unscheduled “wait” time do simple stretching exercises or to breathe deeply and slowly, mindful of all that is beautiful and life-giving around you. Those few “in-between” minutes can be graced opportunities to count your blessings, take a quick catnap, or to just rest, relax, and rejoice in a moment of respite from the rush and hustle of everyday life.\

Whether you are a busy “do-er,” needing something active to fill the time, or a more contemplative person who can infuse these moments with added prayer, these “little scraps of time” are a gift from God. And it is good stewardship to grasp gratefully and use wisely these fleeting opportunities to do some worthwhile thing for yourself or others.