"Our struggle to put first things first can be characterized by the contrast between two powerful tools that direct us: the clock and the compass. The clock represents our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, activities - what we do with, and how we manage our time. The compass represents our vision, values, principles, mission, conscience, direction - what we feel is important and how we lead our lives. The struggle comes when we sense a gap between the clock and the compass - when what we do doesn't contribute to what is most important in our lives."
If my wife asks me when I come home from work, "Did you have a good day?", the clock and compass is probably in my mind when I answer her. There are days when I get a lot of items checked off my task list, but at the end of the day I wonder if everything I checked really connected to my purposes as a pastor. There are other days when the quantity of work doesn't seem to be much, but what does get accomplished connects with the core of my calling. These are satisfying days. When clock and compass connect, the end of the day brings a really good kind of tired.
