Editor's Musings

Editor's Musings

Opening thoughts from the editor's desk.

Sharon Cress is editor of the Journal

Someone once described a friend as someone with whom you can "waste" time. Could this be why so many clergy spouses have so few friends? After all, we have so little time to "waste." We greet each other with "How are you?" "Busy. And you?" "I'm incredibly busy, too." Having participated in that litany, we immediately get down to more busyness, which some of us enjoy wearing like a holy mantle. 

A philosopher commented that atheism in the modern world is characterized by this affirmation: "If I don't do it, it won't happen." Occasionally, as pastors' wives we get a chastening reminder that God is so great that He can be at work even when we are not! How humbling that He does not need you or me to supervise and direct every activity!

One of the burdens of being financially poor is that all our money must be spent on necessities, with not much left for anything else. Some of us have made ourselves "time poor" and live with a similar burden—all our time is spent on "necessary" things, and we are left with no time for anything else, including important (and necessary) things, like friendships.

It takes courage to sit on a park bench, to lazily read book, to linger at the window and watch the drama of the rain or the beauty of a rainbow. It takes courage to sit and do nothing.

My challenge for you and me this day is to set aside time to " waste." In the frenzy and wickedness of this world we surely need the respite. Jesus created you and me with a need for emotional rest. Let's follow His example and leave things in the hands of our Father.

God bless us every one!

Sharon