SENTINEL WATCH December 25, 2006 Issue

'ME TIME' TIME—WITH GOD

INGRID PESCHKE, STAFF EDITOR

AN ARTICLE POSTED a few months back on the website cnn.com emphasized the importance of "me time" for an individual's overall health. For those balancing careers and family, the article said, this time is especially vital. The Families and Work Institute (FWI) reportedly found that working mothers in particular spend more time at the job, as well as with their families, then their counterparts did 25 years ago. So how are moms keeping their sanity? FWI president Ellen Galinsky says it's due to the fact that more mothers are also finding time for themselves—and that in doing this they actually free up space to give to others.

Carving out the necessary time we all need to feel close to God can seem almost impossible for anyone these days. But this is truly vital if we want to give our best to our families, friends, colleagues, and neighbors. And if finding this time is difficult amid the daily routine, then what about during the accelerated pace of the holiday season?

If "me time" can be defined as moments spent alone to refuel, regroup—by going to the gym, reading a book, or taking a walk—then those quiet moments can also be the time we spend with God, who is always with us wherever we are. A friend of mine recently put it this way: "How much time are you spending with your other relative?"

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