When my children were in their teens, it seemed like there was always a mountain of laundry to do. In fact, it would get so piled up from time to time, they named it Mount Washmore! One time in particular that I remember, not only had it piled up but our pipes froze and I couldn’t even wash had I not been so far behind. So I loaded Mount Washmore up in the car, went to a coin-operated laundromat, and spent several hours "catching up." I mentioned it to my mom in a passing conversation and she said, "You know, if you don’t get behind, you don’t ever have to catch up."That was not what I wanted to hear just then. I would have preferred something more along the lines of "There, there, precious darlin'. It happens to all of us." If not that, then something similar. Instead, I was...admonished.
It took me quite a while to get my brain wrapped around that. I had to face the truth that too often I was taking the easy way out and just not doing laundry when I actually did have a few minutes to start a load in the washer or move one over to the dryer. I needed to invest more intentionality when it came to using my time. Oh, I'm not talking about the big important chunks of time, but rather the "little time" we all have that's somewhat discretionary. The ten minutes before we have to leave to go somewhere...the time spent waiting for someone else...that’s the "little time" that I needed to get under control.
In the remake of Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory, one of the winners of the golden ticket was a girl named Violet. Remember her? She was the champion gum chewer. Do you remember her mother? She would admonish Violet throughout the tour of the Chocolate Factory. She would say to her, "Eyes on the prize, Violet." She didn’t want Violet to be sidetracked from being the champion gum chewer of the world, or the big winner of the Chocolate Factory...although she chose unwisely.
I'm still learning, but I’ve come a long way. Eyes on the prize requires my intentionality during the little time that comes my way in a day. It may not be easy, but it will be best.
- Sheree Yasko Hill
