Time Snatchers

Slightly ahead of me, a red car had just exited I-295 but stayed in the entrance / exit lane. From the center lane, I merged directly behind and wondered if they were from out of town and made a wrong turn. Once we arrived at the top of the ramp, I merged left into the empty lane heading west, but the red car stayed in the right lane and again exited the interstate. 

What was going on? Why would a person get off and back on the interstate over and over? Curious minds wonder about the strangest things.

Maybe they were lost. Maybe they were distracted on their cell phone or with a child in the back seat. Maybe their GPS was playing tricks on them. But the answer I settled on was this—they were deep in thought and mindlessly driving without focus. Just doing loops—on and off the interstate.

Haven't we all done something similar? 

Driven somewhere and not remember the drive at all. Or walked into a room to grab something but then can't remember what. Or told yourself, "Don't forget to call Serena." And when you have time to make the call, you can't remember who or what was so important. Sort of like, your brain took a break or a nap without clueing you in.

What are the mindless traps you fall into? Where do you lose or waste time the most? When is your brain most likely to snooze and not be engaged when it should?

• Watching television is my first answer. After a long day, I like to escape into a good movie and stop thinking about my to-do list. I admit I should do less of this.
• Checking social media is my second pitfall. Yep, look at my Facebook feed, then Instagram posts, then look at emails, then play Words with Friends. Next thing you know, I've wasted twenty minutes or more.
• Fretting over how I'm going to get it all done is my third time-snatcher. If I stopped pondering the huge list over and over, I would have more time to actually accomplish something on the list.

Time doesn't care how we use it, whether it's haphazard and mindless or efficient and focused.

It's a choice we make whether we realize it or not. Even when we waste time, we're squandering those minutes—as if they washed down the drain into an irretrievable abyss—gone forever.

Now I'm not criticizing movie watching or social media, nor time resting and having fun. I'm just saying it takes a focused mind to garner the best life has to offer, whether we are on a mission to accomplish something or just hanging out and smelling the roses. And yes, losing time will happen. It's a part of life like feathers on a chicken but maybe with awareness, we can waste less.

Let's choose to live a life of intention. And do fewer loops on the exit ramps of life.

"So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us." Philippians 3:15 MSG

What about you? What is your greatest time snatcher? How do you stay focused? Curious minds want to know and learn. Thanks for sharing.