The Visitor » The Clock and the Compass

Stephen Covey said it in First Things First. ” Our struggle to put first things first can be characterized by the contrast of two powerful tools that direct us: the clock and the compass.

The clock represents our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, activities …. how we manage our time. The compass represents our vision, values, principles, mission, conscience, direction-what we feel is important and how we lead our lives. The struggle comes when we sense a gap between the clock and the compass-when what we do doesn’t contribute to what is
important in our lives.”

I think I can sense the time element in the life of Jesus. He saw the need of working while it was day (and even made the most of their interruptions which came his way), but there was always the compass, which governed the clock.

If we misplace the compass we’re going to find our voyage messed up, for the clock doesn’t really matter if we are headed in the wrong direction.

But once we learn to manage our time, headed in the right direction, everything is working as it should. We must redeem the time as we keep looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

It’s not a matter of either/or. We need both clock and compass.

John Gipson