Seems like everywhere I turn someone’s talking to me about margin. As in, “Hey, you got any margin? If you don’t, you better get you some, jack.” (For the record, most of the made-up voices in my head sound like they’re from Redneck, GA or Duck Dynasty. And I like that.)
Much like that white space at the edges of your paper where you doodle the name of the cute boy, draw cool cars, or practice your application sketch of that turtle for the Art Instruction Schools, margin is the space at the edge of your life, that free time at the end of the day, the random moment during the week that gives you the flexibility to say YES to an unexpected opportunity.
I’ve heard sermons and talks and presentations and devotionals and commercials and songs about the need for margin. I’ve read passages in the Bible about Sabbath and rest, about Jesus withdrawing to the wilderness or leaving the crowd just as the buzz was growing and he was starting to gain a following. Today I spent some time reading Mark 6.
The disciples come back from the first ministry assignment out among the people without Jesus. He takes them away to rest. The crowd follows, and Jesus ends up feeding 5000. After dinner he sends the disciples away in a boat and dismisses the crowd. Jesus goes off by himself to pray. Not exactly a great marketing strategy, but it seems to have worked for him. He created some margin for himself to spend time praying, talking with his Father.
Andy Stanley once told me (and 2500 other conference attendees) that if I don’t have margin, then all I’ll be able to give to my church is what’s on my job description, and I probably won’t be very good/passionate in that role. But margin opens the possibility for vitality, creativity, and ministry.
Message received. I’m starting to give some things away, stopping some things, creating some blank space in the calendar, and in my life.
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