“Me” Time

A few months back I heard this song (the lyrics are below) when I got the new Kenny Chesney album. At first I really liked it, and then I started questioning of the theology of it (while still really liking it, but not sure if I should). I mean, I am not meant to live for myself, but for Christ. I am not meant to schedule my time solely for me, but for others, too. I am not supposed to bow to the ways of the culture and live in a “me” saturated world. That’s not Biblical. And it’s not nice.

And yet, there is something that calls to me about this song and the idea of having time for me. Time to do what I want. Time to not have to listen to the “noise” of my everyday life. Time when the only person I am responsible for is me.

This weekend, I took my kids school shopping on Friday night. We had a (mostly) fun evening together and got some work accomplished. But on Saturday, I wanted to be alone. Not in the “alone in the woods with my thoughts” kind of way, but the “alone in a crowded room” kind of way. So, with my husband’s blessing, I went to the mall. By myself. I tried on clothes. I looked at books. I walked through stores my kids wouldn’t like. I got a pedicure. I listened to the music I wanted to listen to all the way there and back. I didn’t have to worry about making sure the kids got lunch when I myself wasn’t hungry. I loved it. And when I got back, we took the kids to Mike’s dad’s and he and I went fishing for most of the night. It was lovely. We talked about lots of stuff and yet nothing in particular. We didn’t talk at all for long periods and just enjoyed the peace of the night. We slept in until 10:30 a.m. And then we went and picked the kids up and spent the afternoon with them. And I wasn’t stressed. And I wasn’t anxious. And I didn’t get frustrated. And I enjoyed it. In addition, I have a very full week this week and am feeling positive and confident that I can face it and finish it well.

Which brings me back to my quandary of finding the balance between living for Christ and others, while still allowing some time for myself so that I can be better at living for Christ and others, without falling into the trap of getting too focused on me and my needs.

I think the key word in the previous sentence is “balance.” We all know that concept, but figuring out exactly what balance is and putting it into practice is a whole other issue. I don’t think there is any doubt that we have to take time for ourselves sometimes. And I know there is no question that we are to live for Christ and others. Which means that we absolutely have to figure out what balance looks like for us. It may be a little different for each one of us, so we can’t rely on someone else’s way of structuring their lives. We have to find our own balance.

So that’s what I am going to work on this fall. As everything starts back up and my days fill up with many things to do, I need to figure out how much “me” time is necessary in order to make the “God and others” time more effective.

Have you found your balance? If you have, how does it work for you? If you haven’t, what would you need to do to find it?

Take a listen to the song here and read the lyrics below.

Kenny Chesney-Live A Little Lyrics

Stressed out, running late, racing down the interstate
Spilled hot coffee, down the front of my jeans
It’s work, work, pay the rent, money and my time’s spent
Not a minute left for me to be me

Been going like nothing can wait
I gotta get my priorities straight

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Find a girl that brings my whole world to a stop
Live a little, love a lot

Friday night, here we go, do a little do-si-do
Kick back, have a laugh, catch my breath
Tell the band slow it down, there she is, think I found
Maybe Ms. Wonderful, I haven’t met yet

It just hit me like a wrecking ball
She’s giving me a wake up call

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Find a girl that brings my whole world to a stop
Live a little, love a lot

Step back, smell the rose
Feel the sand between your toes
Unplug, unwind
Step out in the sunshine

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Find a girl that brings my whole world to a stop
Live a little

I need to live a little, have some fun
Take some time, waste it on number one
Take the girl, get a map and pick any old dot
Live a little, we need to live a little, love a lot