時間是朋友或敵人？
By Robert J. Tamasy
無論在商場和專業的世界裡，或是在生活的其他領域，時間是一個難題。當我們面對一個無法改變的期限時，時間似乎過得特別快，我們的時間壓力不斷升高。但是，當我們焦急地等待重要的決定，例如職位晉升，或者是簽訂合同的潛在客戶時 ，時間似乎又過得特別慢。
在最近的一次的義大利旅行中，我觀察了歐洲大部分地區的情況。包括零售商和餐館在內的企業通常在中午過後關閉，讓每個人休息並煥然一新。在歐洲夏季，休息時幾個星期，甚至是一個月，這種情況很常見。
相比之下，美國人似乎經常被時間所奴役。許多人不願意休假，因為擔心競爭對手會獲得優勢，他們的老闆會在他們不在時找到其他人填補他們的位置。有些人甚至在他們的辦公桌上吃午餐，因為害怕工作進度落後。
就在幾週前，我接受了第二次心臟手術，換了受損的主動脈瓣，這讓我對時間有了不同的看法。這個手術，比12年前的體外循環心臟手術更沒有侵入性，因此，恢復更快、更容易，但認真看待這個手術仍然是手術成功的重要關鍵。
從工作的角度來看，雖然我認為自己做的工作很重要，但如果我不能做，很快也會有其他人完成。但如果我在與妻子、孩子、孫子、朋友以及領導－門訓中的關係中缺席，這個關係就無法完成。
所以問題是：我要把時間投入在哪裡？不是說我不應該繼續做我喜歡的工作，而是不應該犧牲和生命中的重要人物一起度過的時間。
聖經告誡我們「要愛惜光陰，因為現今的世代邪惡。」（以弗所書5章16節）。但這並不表示時間本質是壞的，時間就是不斷地前進，無論我們是否明智地使用它，時間都會無情地繼續下去。我記得幾年前曾經參加過時間管理課程。「時間管理」這個用詞其實並是不是很恰當，因為我們無法「管理」時間，我們不能把它放入保險箱或自動儲存裝置之後再用。它不是我們可以保存的東西，我們只能盡可能有效和有意義地利用它。
另一節聖經經文傳道書3章1-18節，提供了一種對時間的看法：「凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。」對我而言，這意味著有時我需要集中注意力和精神如期完成工作，但有時我需要和家人在一起，享受美好的優質時光或興趣。又或者有時我需要休息恢復體力和精神。正如前人所說，這個世上還沒有人在臨終前會真誠地宣告說：「我希望在工作上花更多的時間。」
© 2018. Robert J. TamasyIt 是企業巔峰: 給今日職場從箴言而來永恆的智慧 一書的作者。也與導師之心的作者David A. Stoddard 合著Tufting Legacies。編輯多本著作包括Mike Landry. Bob的書: 透過苦難成長。Mike Landry. Bob的網站為www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com, 他的雙週部落格為: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
反省與問題討論
有時候時間似乎過得很快，有時候過得很慢嗎？你認為原因是什麼？ 你有沒有想過研究所謂的「時間管理」其實滿諷刺的？因為時間就是不停地流逝，我們其實不能真正管理或控制它？ 在工作方面，你如何使用時間？有機會時，你是否會常常從工作中抽出時間來享受休息和恢復活力？又或者你常常把時間視為敵人，盡可能地把工作和活動塞進每個醒著的分鐘或小時？你是屬於哪一種？為什麼你會這麼做？ 你如何能更有效地「贖回時間」(應用時間)？
注意：如果您有聖經並希望閱讀更多有關於這個主題的經文，請參考:
箴言23章4-5節
23:4不要勞碌求富，休仗自己的聰明。
23:5你豈要定睛在虛無的錢財上嗎？因錢財必長翅膀，如鷹向天飛去。
傳道書3章1-18節
3:1 凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。
3:2 生有時，死有時；栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；
3:3 殺戮有時，醫治有時；拆毀有時，建造有時；
3:4 哭有時，笑有時；哀慟有時，跳舞有時；
3:5 拋擲石頭有時，堆聚石頭有時；懷抱有時，不懷抱有時；
3:6 尋找有時，失落有時；保守有時，捨棄有時；
3:7 撕裂有時，縫補有時；靜默有時，言語有時；
3:8 喜愛有時，恨惡有時；爭戰有時，和好有時。
3:9 這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有甚麼益處呢？
3:10 我見 神叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。
3:11 神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生（原文是永遠）安置在世人心裏。然而 神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。
3:12 我知道世人，莫強如終身喜樂行善；
3:13 並且人人吃喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是 神的恩賜。
3:14 我知道 神一切所做的都必永存；無所增添，無所減少。 神這樣行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。
3:15 現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且 神使已過的事重新再來（或譯：並且 神再尋回已過的事）。
3:16 我又見日光之下，在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡。
3:17 我心裏說， 神必審判義人和惡人；因為在那裏，各樣事務，一切工作，都有定時。
3:18 我心裏說，這乃為世人的緣故，是 神要試驗他們，使他們覺得自己不過像獸一樣。
加拉太書6章10節
6:10 所以，有了機會就當向眾人行善，向信徒一家的人更當這樣。
歌羅西書4章5-6節
4:5 你們要愛惜光陰，用智慧與外人交往。
4:6 你們的言語要常常帶著和氣，好像用鹽調和，就可知道該怎樣回答各人。
TIME: FRIEND OR FOE?
By Robert J. Tamasy
In the business and professional world, as well as other areas of life, time is somewhat of a paradox. When facing an inflexible deadline, time seems to move incredibly fast, escalating our stress levels. But when we are anxiously awaiting an important decision – perhaps a job promotion, or a potential client deciding whether to sign a contract – the pace of time can seem to slow down significantly.
During a recent trip to Italy, I observed what occurs in much of Europe. Businesses, including retailers and restaurants, often close during the midafternoon hours to allow everyone to take a rest and become refreshed. It is not uncommon for individuals in Europe to take several weeks, even a month, off from work during the summer months.
Americans, by contrast, often seem enslaved by time. Many are reluctant to take vacations, for fear a competitor will gain an edge on them or, perhaps, their boss will find someone else to fill their position while they are gone. Some workers even gobble down lunches at their desks, afraid of falling behind in their job demands.
Just weeks ago, I underwent a second heart surgery, which presented me with a different perspective on time. This surgery, to replace a damaged aortic valve, was accomplished through a much less invasive procedure than my open-heart surgery nearly 12 years ago. So the recovery has been much easier and faster; but the seriousness of the operation still helped to put things in perspective.
From a job standpoint, the work I do, although I believe it is important, would quickly be done by someone else if I were no longer able to do it. Some of the things I do simply would no longer be done at all. But from the standpoint of relationships I have – with my wife, children, grandchildren, friends, and the men I meet with in mentoring/discipling relationships – that is where my absence would be felt the most.
So the question is: Moving forward, where is my time best invested? Not to say I should not continue to do the work I enjoy and feel called to do, but not at the expense of time I should be spending with the important people in my life.
In the Bible, it admonishes us to “redeem the time for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). This does not mean time is inherently bad, but the passage of time continues relentlessly, whether we attempt to use it wisely or not. I recall the classes in time management I attended years ago. In reality, “time management” is a misnomer because we cannot “manage” it. We cannot put it into a safety deposit box or a self-storage unit for later use. It is not a commodity we can preserve; we can only resolve to utilize it as effectively and meaningfully as possible.
Another biblical passage on time, Ecclesiastes 3:1-18, offers the perspective. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven….” To me, this means there are times for focusing my attention and energy to meet critical deadlines, but also there are times for being with my family, pursuing favorite pastimes or hobbies, or simply seeking to restore myself physically, mentally and spiritually. As someone has said, it is unlikely anyone on their deathbed has sincerely announced with regret, “I wish I had spent more time at work.”
© 2018. Robert J. Tamasy has written Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace; Tufting Legacies; coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring, and edited numerous other books, including Advancing Through Adversity by Mike Landry. Bob”s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Does it seem that time passes quickly sometimes, and drags along very slowly in other circumstances? Why do you think this is the case? Have you ever thought about the irony of studying “time management,” when the passage of time cannot truly be managed or controlled? Where do you fall in terms of time/work philosophy? Are you diligent to take time off from work when you have the opportunity, enjoying being able to rest and rejuvenate? Or do you typically regard time as an enemy, determining to cram as much work and activity as possible into every waking minute or hour? In either case, what serves as your motivation? How do you – or could you – go about “redeeming the time” more effectively?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Proverbs 23:4-5; Ecclesiastes 3:1-18; Galatians 6:10; Colossians 4:5-6
