Wall calendars are practical, and great if you like to stay on top of your social events and medical appointments.
Last Christmas, I unwrapped three different calendars. I kid you not. I hit the scheduling trifecta.
Now, at the start of each year, I like to come up with exciting new projects.
1. Learn how to play the violin without alienating family and friends
2. Build an apiary and enjoy homegrown honey
3. Write an outstanding screenplay
Whether I get around to following through with them is another matter entirely.
But, that’s the beauty of having dreams, isn’t it? They’re fanciful—they’re kingdoms you conjure up in the air—you’re free to soar as far as your imagination allows.
For 2021 though, I’ve chosen a project that is both simple and elegant.
With the largest calendar, I’ve begun to fill in the 1 inch by 1 inch squares with quotes from the books I’m currently reading. I fill in one square with one quote, every single day.
That way, I can keep poignant, thought provoking or beautifully expressed sentences from the authors that inspire me throughout the entire year.
It takes less than a minute, and it’s easy to accomplish.
Admittedly, I have spilled longer quotes over a two or three day spread—because the words are just too good to pass up.
Combing my books for brilliant quotes is so nerdy, yet it thrills me to my fingertips. It’s like fossicking for gold nuggets or shucking oysters for pearls.
I gave the second calendar to one of my students, and after showing her my ‘Year of Quotes Calendar’, she’s decided to do the same thing.
Except, that she’s filling her squares with scripture verses. Isn’t that a noble and worthwhile pursuit?
The third calendar is smaller, with hand drawings of Australian native botanicals. For me, it serves as visual reminder of the preciousness of life. I’m like a striking Waratah flower, or a sprig of Wattle or a Gum tree blossom. I’m here today and gone tomorrow.
The thought is rather sobering.
Moses pondered the swiftness of our days, and in Psalm 90:12 he penned these words:
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Was he asking the Lord for an exact date and time for his last day on earth? In his omniscience, God could have easily granted this request.
But, Moses was asking for clear perspective on the brevity of our lives here on earth, so that we may make the most of what days we have left. And the only way to do that is by seizing wisdom and never letting it go.
Not just any brand of wisdom, but godly wisdom because the Bible also talks about worldly wisdom, which is sensual and devilish.
If we’re ever in a quandary, God invites us to ask for help, and to ask for wisdom, as he’s more than happy to give it to us.
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and abraideth not; and it shall be given him.
I need wisdom with time management.
How many days have I wasted on things that aren’t worthy of my time? Things like navel gazing, or getting wound up over trivial matters that in the light of all eternity won’t matter one iota.
There are other thieves to my time: B-grade movies, TV shows that lack substance, crummy novels, depressing songs, and art that neither elevates nor enriches my life.
Time spent on these worthless distractions is time that I’ll never be able to get back.
The connection between wisdom and time is highlighted in Ephesians 5:15-17
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
The word “redeem” means to purchase from or buy back. It means to pay the price or ransom to take someone or something out from a terrible situation.
When you redeem someone from slavery, you pay money to purchase the slave’s freedom.
Christ did that for us. He rescued us. As our Redeemer, he purchased our freedom so that we are no longer enslaved by sin. We can also look forward to Heaven as our final destination instead of the Lake of fire.
The price was his own blood on the cross of Calvary.
So what does it mean to redeem the time?
Does it mean to buy back or purchase time? To invest our time wisely? To cram more activities in because our time is limited?
We need to redeem the time because the days are evil.
It means rescuing our time from the evil deeds of the world we live in. We live in dark times, and the opportunities to do good will be swallowed up by evil unless we act now.
The opportunities to do good, to live righteously, to honour God can slip through our fingers by worldy pursuits and distractions.
It’s so easy to coast and just go with the flow of our current culture. It’s takes more effort to swim against the tide.
We can’t afford to live thoughtlessly. If we are wise, we will align our thinking with God’s thinking, and align our will with His will.
Do something today that will have eternal significance.
It will be well worth the time.
James 4:14
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is our life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Bibliography
Author unstated. 2017, ‘Can you explain Psalms 90:12, especially in how many ways we gain wisdom?’, Answers from the Book, retrieved 12 February 2021 from
Henry, M. 1961, Commentary on the Whole Bible, Zondervan, Michigan.
Matthei, C. 2020, ‘What does it mean to “redeem the time’?’, Australian Church Record, retrieved 12 February 2021 from
What does it mean to “redeem the time”?
Pinilis, L. 2010, ‘Redeeming the Time: A Closer Look’, Life of a Steward, retrieved 12 February 2021 from
Navel-gazing! ???? Had to google what that meant! ???? I’m going to use that from now on! ❌⭕️
Hahaha. I can understand the strong visuals. Perhaps you imagined me staring at my own navel or sitting at the beach scoping out other people’s exposed belly buttons. Hilarious.
I definitely needed to read this, I procrastinate everything, even my hobbies. I didn’t know navel-gazing was a word haha. I’m glad it had nothing to do with belly buttons! 🙂
Hello Em, you’re not alone. Procrastination is the bane of high school and uni students everywhere. Navel-gazing is a funny term isn’t it?