And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
“Life shouldn’t be so busy. Futurists back in the 1950s and ’60s predicted that by the end of the twentieth century, people would be working an average of twenty-four hours a week. Our biggest challenge entering the twenty-first century would be how we would spend all that extra leisure time. Computers and other technological innovations would free us up from menial labor, developing unprecedented opportunities for rest and recreation.
How’s that working for you?
According to a Lou Harris poll, not so good. Our leisure time has shrunk by 37 percent since 1973. And the average work week has stretched from forty-one hours to forty-seven hours. For professionals today, it is not uncommon to log seventy- to eight-hour workweeks. This is one reason why the initial peace and joy I experienced in my newfound faith started to fade. I was so busy that I had no time to dedicate toward genuine spiritual growth on the Being axis or thoughtfully analyze my life and make practical changes on the Doing axis. I was living the classic hamster wheel life.
My personal experience on the treadmill leads me to tell all my clients, “No margin. No mission.” You won’t experience purpose, meaning, and joy if you don’t create margin in your calendar to proactively make changes in your life. And creating margin is hard work.”
Jeff Spadafora in The Joy Model: A Step-by-Step Guide to Peace, Purpose, and Balance (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2016) 42-43.
I am excited for Jeff on the release of this book. This chapter on margin struck me because of Christmas. There was no margin, no space for Mary and Joseph, so Jesus was born in the stable with the animals. His cradle was a feeding trough.
I am grateful my friends in Sydney made room for me. I have had a peaceful, refreshing, and productive weekend. They made room for me, and I am richly blessed. Soon I will depart for home (and nearly a 100 degree swing in temperature…Lord have mercy).
What about you? As you consider Christmas approaching, make room in your calendar for rest. Set aside margin in life for serving others. Build margin in your budget for generous giving. It’s hard work, for sure, but it’s the only pathway to fulfilling our mission.
Let’s make the Christ of Christmas known to the world today, this season, and throughout the year. We live with margin so that we can give, serve, and love generously.