“The world contains far more information than any single person can learn in their lifetime. The question is not whether you are ignorant, but what you choose to be ignorant about. Few topics are worth your precious time. Choose what you pay attention to with great care.”
The above quote was sent to me a couple of days ago. James Clear is author of Atomic Habits, one of A Delectable Education’s titles for the 2020-21 PEC List.
Can I hear you all saying, “Amen!” to this statement: the last thing I need is to think about what to do with my time!
Time is flying and most of us have more we cannot fit into the hours we have than we are fitting into the hours we have. We do not need to consider one more thing that needs to be done, should be done, must be done.
At the end of each day, perhaps at the beginning, or at both times, we find ourselves inwardly pleading, “Stop the clock!” It seems the new year has just begun and already we are tired of running, playing catch up, and far too often find ourselves exhausted just to think of the list of things to do, let alone the despair we feel when we look at it–because we know there are twice that number of things we have not had time to put on that list.
In the interest of time—yours and mine—I’m going to make my points briefly today. I would love to hear your responses, reactions, thoughts, and pushback.
First, the Clear quote is specifically in regard to information, knowledge, what we learn. Just because we have access to vast hoards of information does not mean we need to even be concerned about investigating those fathomless depths of knowledge. Settle it now: there is too much to learn.
Be humble. I cannot, should not, and do not need to learn a lot of good things. I am okay with being completely ignorant about most things that are known in the world.
Be humble. I do need to learn about a few things.
Be humble. I should stop acting like a know-it-all, expert, or authority on things I truly have not studied or understood for myself. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” According to Clear, it’s even okay to say, “I choose not to know.”
Be humble. Choose one thing you must know more about. It does not need to be the thing you must know about, but it can be something you just desire to know about.
It is simply reality to know that because time is limited, our time for learning is also limited.
Second, a word about time, how we use it, the pressures we feel.
Stop. Take time to stop the pace. I recently taught on the fourth commandment in the study of Exodus I am taking my ladies Bible study through. God, the Maker of time, is Lord of that time, and even commands about our use of time.
Stop. You are not a machine made to run continuously. One day out of seven must be a stop day, a ceasing from work day, a rest day. Sabbath literally means “stop,” “cease!” It is not just a physical rest, but you, a priceless person, need rest for your soul.
Stop. Rest is a gift. We work better the other six days if we take out 24 to halt. Turn off the devices, noises, and attention demanders. Christ, the greatest gift, paid a great price to bring us rest. He invites: “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Stop. By coming to a full stop, we find ourselves reorienting to the one who made us, made the days, made us to accomplish our work. When we focus on God more thoroughly one day, we find His path through the other days. We may even find our focus about what it is we need not to be ignorant of, should learn, would like to know.
The God who knows us, knows what we need to learn. Be humble and ask. Stop and listen.
