Administrator Kawal ******* Karma: +0/-0 Offline Offline Posts: 112

TYRANNY OF T ! "R#!NT $ on: %an&ar' (1) 200*) 0*:1+:22 A, TYRANNY OF T ! "R#!NT .' /0arles !1 &mmel a2e 'o& e2er wis0ed for a t0irt'-0o&r da'3 4&rel' t0is e5tra time wo&ld relie2e t0e tremendo&s 6ress&re &nder w0i70 we li2e1 O&r li2es lea2e a trail of &nfinis0ed tas8s1 "nanswered letters) &n2isited friends) &nwritten arti7les) and &nread 9oo8s 0a&nt :&iet moments w0en we sto6 to e2al&ate1 ;e des6eratel' need relief1 .&t wo&ld a t0irt'-0o&r da' reall' sol2e t0e 6ro9lem3 ;o&ldn<t we soon 9e =&st as fr&strated as we are now wit0 o&r twent'-fo&r allotment3 A mot0er<s wor8 is ne2er finis0ed) and neit0er is t0at of an' st&dent) tea70er) minister) or an'one else we 8now1 Nor will t0e 6assa>e of time 0el6 &s 7at70 &61 /0ildren >row in n&m9er and a>e to re:&ire more of o&r time1 #reater e56erien7e in 6rofession and 70&r70 9rin>s more e5a7tin> assi>nments1 4o we find o&rsel2es wor8in> more and en=o'in> it less1 %",.?!@ PRAORATA!4 111 3 ;0en we sto6 to e2al&ate) we realiBe t0at o&r dilemma >oes dee6er t0an s0orta>e of timeC it is 9asi7all' t0e 6ro9lem of 6riorities1 ard wor8 does not 0&rt &s1 ;e all 8now w0at it is to >o f&ll s6eed for lon> 0o&rs) totall' in2ol2ed in an im6ortant tas81 T0e res&ltin> weariness is mat70ed 9' a sense of a70ie2ement and =o'1 Not 0ard wor8) 9&t do&9t and mis>i2in> 6rod&7e an5iet' as we re2iew a mont0 or 'ear and 9e7ome o66ressed 9' t0e 6ile of &nfinis0ed tas8s1 ;e sense &neasil' t0at we ma' 0a2e failed to do t0e im6ortant1 T0e winds of ot0er 6eo6le<s demands 0a2e dri2en &s onto a reef of fr&stration1 ;! 7onfess) :&ite a6art from o&r sins) D;e 0a2e left &ndone t0ose t0in>s w0i70 we o&>0t to 0a2e doneC and we 0a2e done t0ose t0in>s w0i70 we o&>0t not to 0a2e done1D 4e2eral 'ears a>o an e56erien7ed 7ottonmill mana>er said to me) DYo&r >reatest dan>er is lettin> t0e &r>ent t0in>s 7rowd o&t t0e im6ortant1D e didn<t realiBe 0ow 0ard 0is ma5im 0it1 At often ret&rns to 0a&nt and re9&8e me 9' raisin> t0e 7riti7al 6ro9lem of 6riorities1 ;e li2e in 7onstant tension 9etween t0e &r>ent and t0e im6ortant1 T0e 6ro9lem is t0at t0e im6ortant tas8 rarel' m&st 9e done toda' or e2en t0is wee81 !5tra 0o&rs of 6ra'er and .i9le st&d') a 2isit wit0 t0at non-/0ristian friend) 7aref&l st&d' of an im6ortant 9oo8: t0ese 6ro=e7ts 7an wait1 .&t t0e &r>ent tas8s 7all for instant a7tion -- endless demands 6ress&re e2er' 0o&r and da'1

A man<s 0ome is no lon>er 0is 7astleC it is no lon>er a 6la7e awa' from &r>ent tas8s 9e7a&se t0e tele60one 9rea70es t0e walls wit0 im6erio&s demands1 T0e momentar' a66eal of t0ese tas8s seems irresisti9le and im6ortant) and t0e' de2o&r o&r ener>'1 .&t in t0e li>0t of time<s 6ers6e7ti2e t0eir de7e6ti2e 6rominen7e fadesC wit0 a sense of loss we re7all t0e im6ortant tas8s 6&s0ed aside1 ;e realiBe we<2e 9e7ome sla2es to t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent1 /AN YO" !4/AP! 111 3 As t0ere an' es7a6e from t0is 6attern of li2in>3 T0e answer lies in t0e life of o&r ?ord1 On t0e ni>0t 9efore e died) %es&s made an astonis0in> 7laim1 An t0e >reat 6ra'er of %o0n 1+ e said) DA 0a2e finis0ed t0e wor8 w0i70 T0o& >a2est ,e to doD E2erse FG1 ow 7o&ld %es&s &se t0e word Dfinis0ed3D is t0ree-'ear ministr' seemed all too s0ort1 A 6rostit&te at 4imon<s 9an:&et 0ad fo&nd for>i2eness and a new life) 9&t man' ot0ers still wal8ed t0e street wit0o&t for>i2eness and a new life1 For e2er' ten wit0ered m&s7les t0at 0ad fle5ed into 0ealt0) a 0&ndred remained im6otent1 Yet on t0at last ni>0t) wit0 man' &sef&l tas8s &ndone and &r>ent 0&man needs &nmet) t0e ?ord 0ad 6ea7eC e new e 0ad finis0ed #od<s wor81 T0e #os6el re7ords s0ow t0at %es&s wor8ed 0ard1 After des7ri9in> a 9&s' da' ,ar8 writes) DT0at e2enin>) at s&ndown) t0e' 9ro&>0t to im all w0o were si78 or 6ossessed wit0 demons1 And t0e w0ole 7it' was >at0ered a9o&t t0e door1 And e 0ealed man' w0o were si78 wit0 2ario&s diseases) and 7ast o&t man' demonsD E1:(2-(FG1 On anot0er o77asion t0e demand of t0e ill and maimed 7a&sed im to miss s&66er and to wor8 so late t0at is dis7i6les t0o&>0t e was 9eside imself E,ar8 (:21G1 One da' after a stren&o&s tea70in> session) %es&s and is dis7i6les went o&t in a 9oat1 !2en a storm didn<t awa8en im E,att0ew F:(+-(HG1 ;0at a 6i7t&re of e50a&stion1 Yet is life was ne2er fe2eris0C e 0ad time for 6eo6le1 e 7o&ld s6end 0o&rs tal8in> to one 6erson) s&70 as t0e 4amaritan woman at t0e well1 is life s0owed a wonderf&l 9alan7e) a sense of timin>1 ;0en is 9rot0ers wanted im to >o to %&dea) e re6lied) D,' time 0as not 'et 7omeD E%o0n +:IG1 %es&s did not r&in is >ifts 9' 0aste1 An DT0e @is7i6le and /&lt&re of t0e 46irit&al ?ife)D A1!1 ;0ite0am o9ser2es: D ere in t0is ,an is ade:&ate 6&r6ose 111 inward rest) t0at >i2es an air of leis&re to is 7rowded life: a9o2e all t0ere is in t0is ,an a se7ret and a 6ower of dealin> wit0 t0e waste-6rod&7ts of life) t0e waste of 6ain) disa66ointment) enmit') deat0--t&rnin> to di2ine &ses t0e a9&ses of man) transformin> arid 6la7es of 6ain to fr&itf&lness) tri&m60in> at last in deat0) and ma8in> a s0ort life of t0irt' 'ears or so) a9r&6tl' 7&t off) to 9e a Dfinis0edD life1 ;e 7annot admire t0e 6oise and 9ea&t' of t0is 0&man life) and t0en i>nore t0e t0in>s t0at made it1D ;AAT FOR AN4TR"/TAON4 111 ;0at was t0e se7ret of %es&s< wor83 ;e find a 7l&e followin> ,ar8<s a77o&nt of %es&s< 9&s' da'1 ,ar8 o9ser2es t0at D 111 in t0e mornin>) a >reat w0ile 9efore da') e rose and went o&t to a lonel' 6la7e) and t0ere e 6ra'edD E,ar8 1:(JG1 ere is t0e se7ret of %es&s< life and wor8 for #od: e 6ra'erf&ll' waited for is Fat0er<s instr&7tions and for t0e stren>t0 to follow t0em1 %es&s 0ad no di2inel'-drawn 9l&e6rintC e dis7erned t0e Fat0er<s will da' 9' da' in a life of 6ra'er1 .' t0is means e warded off t0e &r>ent and a77om6lis0ed t0e im6ortant1 ?aBar&s< deat0 ill&strates t0is 6rin7i6le1 ;0at 7o&ld 0a2e 9een more im6ortant t0an t0e &r>ent messa>e from ,ar' and ,art0a3 D?ord) 0e w0om Yo& lo2e is illD E%o0n 11:(G1 %o0n re7ords t0e ?ord<s res6onse in t0ese 6arado5i7al words: DNow %es&s lo2ed ,art0a and 0er sister and ?aBar&s1 4o w0en e 0eard t0at 0e was ill) e sta'ed two da's lon>er in t0e 6la7e w0ere e wasD E2erses J-IG1 ;0at was t0e &r>ent need3 O92io&sl' to 6re2ent t0e deat0 of t0is 9elo2ed 9rot0er1 .&t t0e im6ortant t0in> from #od<s 6oint of 2iew was to raise ?aBar&s from t0e dead1 4o

?aBar&s was allowed to die1 ?ater %es&s re2i2ed 0im as a si>n of is ma>nifi7ent 7laim) DA am t0e res&rre7tion and t0e lifeC 0e w0o 9elie2es in ,e t0o&>0 0e die) 'et s0all 0e li2eD E2erse 2JG1 ;e ma' wonder w0' o&r ?ord<s ministr' was so s0ort) w0' it 7o&ld not 0a2e lasted anot0er fi2e or ten 'ears) w0' so man' wret70ed s&fferers were left in t0eir miser'1 47ri6t&re >i2es no answer to t0ese :&estions) and we lea2e t0em in t0e m'ster' of #od<s 6&r6oses1 .&t we do 8now t0at %es&s< 6ra'erf&l waitin> for #od<s instr&7tions freed im from t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent1 At >a2e im a sense of dire7tion) set a stead' 6a7e) and ena9led im to do e2er' tas8 #od assi>ned1 And on t0e last ni>0t e 7o&ld sa') DA 0a2e finis0ed t0e wor8 w0i70 T0o& >a2est ,e to do1D @!P!N@!N/! ,AK!4 YO" FR!! 111 Freedom from t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent is fo&nd in t0e e5am6le and 6romise of o&r ?ord1 At t0e end of a 2i>oro&s de9ate wit0 t0e P0arisees in %er&salem) %es&s said to t0ose w0o 9elie2ed in im: DAf 'o& 7ontin&e in ,' ;ord) 'o& are tr&l' ,' dis7i6les) and 'o& will 8now t0e tr&t0) and t0e tr&t0 will ma8e 'o& free 111 Tr&l') tr&l') A sa' to 'o&) e2er'one w0o 7ommits sin is a sla2e to sin 1111 4o if t0e 4on ma8es 'o& free) 'o& will 9e free indeedD E%o0n H:(1-(IG1 ,an' of &s 0a2e e56erien7ed /0rist<s deli2eran7e from t0e 6enalt' of sin1 Are we lettin> im free &s from t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent3 e 6oints t0e wa': DAf 'o& 7ontin&e in ,' ;ord1D T0is is t0e wa' to freedom1 T0ro&>0 6ra'erf&l meditation on #od<s ;ord we >ain is 6ers6e7ti2e1 P1T1 Fors't0 on7e said) DT0e worst sin is 6ra'erlessness1D ;e &s&all' t0in8 of m&rder) ad&lter') or t0eft as amon> t0e worst1 .&t t0e root of all sin is self-s&ffi7ien7'--inde6enden7e from #od1 ;0en we fail to wait 6ra'erf&ll' for #od<s >&idan7e and stren>t0 we are sa'in>) wit0 o&r a7tions if no o&r li6s) t0at we do not need im1 ow m&70 of o&r ser2i7e is 70ara7teriBed 9' D>oin> it aloneD3 T0e o66osite of s&70 inde6enden7e is 6ra'er in w0i70 we a78nowled>e o&r need to #od<s instr&7tion and s&66l'1 /on7ernin> a de6endent relations0i6 wit0 #od) @onald .aillie sa's: D%es&s li2ed is life in 7om6lete de6enden7e &6on #od) as we all o&>0t to li2e o&r li2es1 .&t s&70 de6enden7e does not destro' 0&man 6ersonalit'1 ,an is ne2er so tr&l' and f&ll' 6ersonal as w0en 0e is li2in> in 7om6lete de6enden7e &6on #od1 T0is is 0ow 6ersonalit' 7omes into its own1 T0is is 0&manit' at its most 6ersonal1D Pra'erf&l waitin> on #od is indis6ensa9le to effe7ti2e ser2i7e1 ?i8e t0e time-o&t in a foot9all >ame) it ena9les &s to 7at70 o&r 9reat0 and fi5 new strate>'1 As we wait for dire7tions t0e ?ord frees &s from t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent1 e s0ows &s t0e tr&t0 a9o&t imself) o&rsel2es) and o&r tas8s1 e im6resses on o&r minds t0e assi>nments e wants &s to &nderta8e1 T0e need itself is not t0e 7allC t0e 7all m&st 7ome from t0e #od w0o 8nows o&r limitations1 DT0e ?ord 6ities t0ose w0o fear im1 For e 8nows o&r frameC e remem9ers t0at we are d&stD EPsalm 10(:1(-1FG1 At is not #od w0o loads &s &ntil we 9end or 7ra78 wit0 an &l7er) ner2o&s 9rea8down) 0eart atta78) or stro8e1 T0ese 7ome from o&r inner 7om6&lsions 7o&6led wit0 t0e 6ress&re of 7ir7&mstan7es1 !KA?"AT! T0e modern 9&sinessman re7o>niBes t0is 6rin7i6le of ta8in> time o&t for e2al&ation1 ;0en #reenwalt was 6resident of @&Pont) 0e said) Done min&te s6ent in 6lannin> sa2es t0ree or fo&r min&tes in e5e7&tion1D ,an' salesmen 0a2e re2ol&tioniBed t0eir 9&siness and m&lti6lied t0eir 6rofits 9' settin> aside Frida' afternoon to 6lan 7aref&ll' t0e ma=or a7ti2ities for t0e 7omin> wee81 Af an e5e7&ti2e is too 9&s' to sto6 and 6lan) 0e ma' find 0imself re6la7ed 9' anot0er man w0o ta8es time to 6lan1 Af t0e /0ristian is too 9&s' to sto6) ta8e s6irit&al in2entor') and re7ei2e 0is assi>nments from #od) 0e 9e7omes a sla2e to t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent1 e ma' wor8 da' and ni>0t to a70ie2e m&70 t0at seems si>nifi7ant to 0imself and ot0ers) 9&t 0e will not finis0 t0e wor8 #od 0as for 0im to do1

A :&iet time of meditation and 6ra'er at t0e start of t0e da' refo7&ses o&r relations0i6 wit0 #od1 Re7ommit 'o&rself to is will as 'o& t0in8 of t0e 0o&rs t0at follow1 An t0ese &n0&rried moments list in order of 6riorit' t0e tas8s to 9e done) ta8in> into a77o&nt 7ommitments alread' made1 A 7om6etent >eneral alwa's draws &6 0is 9attle 6lan 9efore 0e en>a>es t0e enem'C 0e does not 6ost6one 9asi7 de7isions &ntil t0e firin> starts1 .&t 0e is also 6re6ared to 70an>e 0is 6lans if an emer>en7' demands it1 4o tr' to im6lement t0e 6lans 'o& 0a2e made 9efore t0e da'<s 9attle a>ainst t0e 7lo78 9e>ins1 .&t 9e o6en to an' emer>en7' interr&6tions or &ne56e7ted 6erson w0o ma' 7all1 Yo& ma' also find it ne7essar' to resist t0e tem6tation to a77e6t an en>a>ement w0en t0e in2itation first 7omes o2er t0e tele60one1 No matter 0ow 7lear t0e 7alendar ma' loo8 at t0e moment) as8 for a da' or two to 6ra' for >&idan7e 9efore 7ommittin> 'o&rself1 4&r6risin>l' t0e en>a>ement often a66ears less im6erati2e after t0e 6leadin> 2oi7e 0as 9e7ome silent1 Af 'o& 7an wit0stand t0e &r>en7' of t0e initial moment) 'o& will 9e in a 9etter 6osition to wei>0 t0e 7ost and dis7ern w0et0er t0e tas8 is #od<s will for 'o&1 An addition to 'o&r dail' :&iet time) set aside one 0o&r a wee8 for s6irit&al in2entor'1 ;rite an e2al&ation of t0e 6ast) re7ord an't0in> #od ma' 9e tea70in> 'o&) and 6lan o9=e7ti2es for t0e f&t&re1 Also tr' to reser2e most of one da' ea70 mont0 for a similar in2entor' of lon>er ran>e1 Often 'o& will fail1 Aroni7all') t0e 9&sier 'o& >et t0e more 'o& need t0is time of in2entor') 9&t t0e less 'o& seem to 9e a9le to ta8e it1 Yo& 9e7ome li8e t0e fanati7) w0o) w0en &ns&re of 0is dire7tion) do&9les 0is s6eed1 And freneti7 ser2i7e for #od 7an 9e7ome an es7a6e from #od1 .&t w0en 'o& 6ra'erf&ll' ta8e in2entor' and 6lan 'o&r da's) it 6ro2ides fres0 6ers6e7ti2e on 'o&r wor81 /ONTAN"! T ! !FFORT 111 O2er t0e 'ears t0e >reatest 7ontin&in> str&>>le in t0e /0ristian life is t0e effort to ma8e ade:&ate time for dail' waitin> on #od) wee8l' in2entor') and mont0l' 6lannin>1 4in7e t0is time for re7ei2in> mar70in> orders is so im6ortant) 4atan will do e2er't0in> 0e 7an to s:&eeBe it o&t1 Yet we 8now from e56erien7e t0at onl' 9' t0is means 7an we es7a6e t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent1 T0is is 0ow %es&s s&77eeded1 e did not finis0 all t0e &r>ent tas8s in Palestine or all t0e t0in>s e wo&ld 0a2e li8ed to do) 9&t e did finis0 t0e wor8 w0i70 #od >a2e im to do1 T0e onl' alternati2e to fr&stration is to 9e s&re t0at we are doin> w0at #od wants1 Not0in> s&9stit&tes for 8nowin> t0at t0is da') t0is 0o&r) in t0is 6la7e we are doin> t0e will of t0e Fat0er1 T0en and onl' t0en 7an we t0in8 of all t0e ot0er &nfinis0ed tas8s wit0 e:&animit' and lea2e t0em wit0 #od1 4ometime a>o 4im9a 9&llets 8illed a 'o&n> man) @r1 Pa&l /arlson1 An t0e 6ro2iden7e of #od 0is life<s wor8 was finis0ed1 ,ost of &s will li2e lon>er and die more :&ietl') 9&t w0en t0e end 7omes) w0at 7o&ld >i2e &s >reater =o' t0an 9ein> s&re t0at we 0a2e finis0ed t0e wor8 #od >a2e &s to do3 T0e >ra7e of o&r ?ord %es&s /0rist ma8es t0is f&lfillment 6ossi9le1 e 0as 6romised deli2eran7e from sin and t0e 6ower to ser2e #od in t0e tas8s of is 70oi7e1 T0e wa' is 7lear1 Af we 7ontin&e in t0e ;ord of o&r ?ord) we are tr&l' is dis7i6les1 And e will free &s from t0e t'rann' of t0e &r>ent) free &s to do t0e im6ortant) w0i70 is t0e will of #od1 L 1*I+ 9' Anter-Karsit' /0ristian Fellows0i61 Re6rinted 9' 6ermission of Anter-Karsit' Press) @owners #ro2e) A? I0J1J1