Margin

A book has margins. The margins are found at the top, bottom, and on both sides. And they contain - NOTHING. They are intentionally left blank. Why? 

Well, for one thing it makes the text on the page much easier to read. The margins allow our eyes to focus on what we want to read - the actual text.

Margin allows us to focus on those parts of our lives
that are most important

Margin built into our lives allow us to prepare and evaluate what we do, say, and chose. It allows us to focus on those parts of our lives that are most important. Margins are the extra time we give ourselves before we head off to work, school, or an activity.

Another reason for the margins in a book is to allow notes to be written there. As you read, thoughts pop into your own head. The margins give you a place to write your own ideas down.

When I was in High School, a Bible came out that had huge margins. I remember being part of a Bible study where the teacher encouraged us to jot down our thoughts in those expansive margins.

Margins in our lives give us time to think. They are the parenthetical places we can interject our own thoughts, opinions, and feelings into our lives. An airplane on autopilot will eventually run out of gas. At some point the pilot must take manual control and adjust the plane's course. Margins allow us to plot the overall course for our lives, making changes as needed, and assuring we are headed where we need to go.

Margin is the parenthetical places we can interject
our own thoughts, opinions, and feelings into our lives.

Finally, margins delineate. They delineate the text from the edge of the book. Maybe a better illustration of delineation is the rumble strips along-side the highway. They delineate a fast moving car from the dangers of the edge of the road. Without those rumble strips, an inattentive driver could drift over to the shoulder and cause an accident.

Living without margin may be exhilarating and fun for a time, but eventually we end up over the edge and in a damaged position. A medical emergency. A financial crisis. Loss of employment. Any of these unexpected events can hit us without warning. If we live our lives ignoring the margin, we risk the possibility of crashing hard when we no longer need more margin, but a whole new beginning.

The Bible extols us to have margin in our lives. Check out these verses:

God rested after He created the world.  (Genesis Genesis 2:2,3)

 The Israelites were commanded to take one day off from working every seven days. (Exodus 20:9,10) 

The fields of the Israelites were required to rest every seventh year.  (Leviticus 25:3,4)

Jesus took time away from the crowds on a regular basis to rest and spend time in prayer with His father.  (Luke 4:42; 5:16;)

Make a "Stop-Do" list and eliminate unnecessary tasks

Margin in our lives today may come in the form of a quiet time in the morning with coffee. It may come in the evening prior to bedtime after the children are in bed. It may involve separation from our cell phone - taking a break from text messages, phone calls, and social media.

Margin can be found on the weekend, a vacation, or a free evening.

However, margin may involve more in saying "No" to filling our your daily routine. Margin may involve penning a "Stop-Do List" and eliminate unnecessary tasks from your life.  Whatever it looks like for you, margin is the precious breathing room we need around our activities. The room to stop, step back, and see the Big Picture of what we do.

One final note. Margin will NOT be given to you. You have to take it. You have to intentionally chose to have margin in your life. Margin doesn't just happen. Not today. Not in America. Satan would love nothing more than to keep you so busy that you don't have time to prioritize your time, evaluate your life, and plan for the future.

Make time for margin.