The last 2 months have been a whirlwind for me.

My schedule was packed with appointments and responsibilities through and through. Although I was physically tired from days of back-to-back appointments, there was an overwhelming sense of fulfilment from filling each other up with the love of Christ.

I am also a planner by nature, so that meant that the schedule for these 2 months had been planned out in advance. So I thought I knew what I was getting myself into, and thus could prepare to meet the needs and routines of my daily life, including keeping and protecting my time with the Lord.

I felt like I was in the sweet spot of having found balance and fruitfulness in my life as well as recognising the Lord’s abundance in it (John 10:10). I was joyful in life, work had meaning and the ministry was thriving.

The only thing I lacked was time. There wasn’t any space for spontaneity or unexpected events which required prompt attention.

Like when my mother wanted to spend time with me, or when my cell member needed time for me to listen to her and help her process a difficult situation, or when a friend’s grandmother passed away.

All of these were events that I couldn’t simply schedule into my calendar and say, “I’ll check back with you in 2 weeks time!”

They all needed my attention. And I don’t use the word “need” narcissistically, as if I was the only one who could help them. But these were all important people to me, and I really wanted to be there for them because I know they would have done the same for me.

Beyond these loved ones as well, how about the people I interact with everyday?

I didn’t make time to be sincere when meeting people in places I was passing through, like the uncle I order my caifan from hurriedly at lunch because I’m hungry, or the cleaner who I thank thoughtlessly whenever she comes to clear the rubbish.

With my packed schedule, would I have space for them if they needed it?

Perhaps I’ve been treating each of them simply as a means to an end so that my day would continue smoothly, and I could proceed to the people and events I decided were most to bear fruit.

With each passing year of life, time feels more precious and finite.

There are countless voices on different platforms telling us to spend our finite time and energy on the things that truly matter. Yet the fact remains that we wouldn’t know if this person or event truly matters until we invest time and effort in them.

A gardener wouldn’t know just how promising a plot of land is until it bears the fruits.

… intentionally leave a portion of whatever the Lord has given you for anyone who needs it.

In Leviticus 23:22 the Lord instructs the Israelites not to reap their fields all the way to the edges, because those parts were meant to be left for “the poor and the sojourner” to pick. This meant that the Israelites intentionally left a portion of their harvest for anyone who needed it.

That commandment remains the same in today’s context, to intentionally leave a portion of whatever the Lord has given you for anyone who needs it. In filling up my calendar to the brim, I left no space and time for anyone who might need it.

Even more importantly, I left no space and time for God to use me.

I can only look to Jesus. He was busy in his 3 years of ministry but He was never too busy to stop for anyone who needed Him.

He specifically travelled to a dangerous area to raise Lazarus from the dead (John 11). He searched for and healed the bleeding lady while in a huge crowd (Mark 5:25-34). Even in His greatest trial, as He hung on the cross, He comforted the criminal hanging next to Him: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

We will never be able to live our lives just the way as Jesus did, but we should imitate Him. So let’s start small by simply being available to be used by God.