One morning I had a breakfast sandwich and was fine – the day looked bright.  The next morning I could barely finish a biscotti without hurting my stomach.  What’s the problem?  Timing.  The wrong timing or no timing, can be a killer.  Hence, it is critical that we know timing – the right timing.

Let’s touch on two perspectives on the concept of timing.  First, let’s suppose you were preparing your favorite dish.  You collected the right ingredients but you added some before you were supposed to.  Then, you placed part of the mixture in the oven with the intention of adding the rest after half-baking the partial mix.  Undoubtedly, your production wouldn’t turn out to be as tasty as you hoped. The sequence of events has to be right.

Here’s another perspective.  You’ve been wanting to go back to school to finish your education, or maybe you have been meaning to call that long lost friend or relative to make things right.  Yet something always seems to come up.  You thought you should wait for the right time, which may have been months, or even years.  In retrospect, it is clear that the time may never be just right.  So, now is the right time.

Sometimes we have a good sense of when is the right timing.  So, wanting the right time isn’t necessarily the main issue.  Perhaps it is fear.  Fear of failure.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear that you cannot handle it as taught by Susan Jeffers in Feel the Fear . . . and Do It Anyway.

Some goals require you to follow a recipe but some require that you create the recipe by just jumping in.  The right time for you is now.

.

“Timing is everything,” says some unknown

Yet “no-timing” can be the more decisive way to go

For whom can realize the finish without a plan?

Yet it could paralyze action by craving perfection shown

.

“Fear not,” He said and still says today

Because I’m with you from the morning dew

Till the setting sun and glimmer of twilight

Strategize you may, but let Me have My way

.

The balance to determine when to act

And when to wait, needs direction

So trust Him who knows the future

For the peace in knowing “the right time,” for a fact

During the Great Depression, James Braddock worked as a day laborer to feed his family.  His boxing license was revoked and he needed to feed his family which included three young children.  The path seemed hopeless and with not enough money to keep the lights on during the winter, sending his children to relatives for a while entered his wife’s mind.  But he was determined to maintain the union of his family, no matter if it meant getting back in the ring, with the possibility of being killed in a fight.

Then James’ luck began to turn around.  His former manager, Joe Gould, arranged for a one time fight.  He won and Joe pleaded with the commissioner to reinstate James’ license.  He did and after several more wins, James became the top heavy weight contender against the defending champion Max Baer.  Max killed two opponents in the ring before with solid right blows to the head so needless to say, James’ wife was a nervous wreck.  But in an interview with the media a reporter asked James to explain his whirlwind comeback.  He replied that apart from not being injured, he knew what he was fighting for this time.  “What’s that?” the reported inquired.  James replied, “For milk.”  This story was nicely told in the movie Cinderella Man.
.

What or who are you fighting for today?  Is it to feed your family?  Is it to be the top dog in your organization?  Is it because you made a promise to someone?  Do you even know why you are fighting daily through the traffic, heat, cold, mediocre wage or working conditions?  Maybe you are being paid handsomely, but why are you doing it?

Stop just going through the motion, if you are, and find your purpose for life!  You’ll find you’ll be able to function with more passion and your activities will be more purposeful.  If you’ve found it, I applaud you.  Now help someone else with the gift of your time and expertise.  As you give, you will receive in like measure (Luke 6:38).  If you are not there yet, seek out someone who is ahead of you to hold you accountable for moving toward your goal, or even another to mentor you.  There is someone who is depending on you using and sharing your talent.  To him or her, that’s milk.

Be it for milk, growth or passion

Know your why – it’s not fashion

Toiling, sweating, and bleeding to move multiple steps forward

But what a blessing if it’s your choice, not that you’re coward

For when you’ve clarified the purpose for your effort

You strive even if you don’t feel alive, to guard your fort

You endure even if it seems like defeat for sure

Yes, you live when you learn how to share your talent the more

 

One fighter fought knowing he had to provide milk

I fight for heroism at home, and to touch some heart, just like silk

In your marriage you need a particular activity, maybe a certain touch or word, which will have a certain or definite touch – will always reach your spouse, no matter the level of conflict between both of you.  It must be something he or she has given you permission to use even in times of conflict.

In my marriage I gave my wife the permission to inquire about my business at any time.  This works for me because I want to be held accountable for the means I use to provide for my family, even when I’m not on the job – this certain touch is certain to reach me.  I got this idea after reading this charge given in one of my company’s materials:

“As a financial advisor, your job is to help clients pursue their financial goals.  To be effective, you need to lead, believe in yourself, be confident and courageous.  Because ultimately, your clients depend on you to help them achieve their dreams.”

This is also a fitting thought for the gentlemen in the home.  Our wives are depending on us to be the leader toward family dreams even when the emotional climate in the home is inclement.  My wife has a way to remind me to be the man God has called me to be with my family.

The Bibletells the story of a woman who had a bleeding problem for twelve years.  But she came behind Jesus, touched the hem of His garment and was healed.  It was fascinating that just by touching his clothes she was healed but it was just as interesting that Jesus turned around and asked, “Who touched me?”  It didn’t matter that crowds of people were thronging Him.  The lady had a certain touch that was not like any in the crowd because power had gone out of Jesus (Luke 8:43-48).

Your spouse, male or female, is depending on you to reach out in faith, despite the distractions of ill-feelings, and make a certain touch.  Also, your spouse is depending on you, despite the distractions of ill-feelings, to recognize that he or she is attempting to make a certain touch.  Remember this, your spouse is not the enemy, but Satan is.  His charter is to build a wedge between the two of you and he will often use your mind, tongue and actions to accomplish his work.  He can only accomplish it when you choose to give in to his suggestion, but if you resist him, he will flee from you (James 4:7).  Your spouse is depending on you for a certain touch.

May I touch you, any time?

Yes, yes!  If you don’t, it will be a crime

Thanks for the permission I believe I still hold

I wish to never be too emotionally distracted that I’m cold

My faith in us drives me despite painful slights

And my heart also aches yet I yearn to again satisfy your plights

Surely Satan is busy and is trying to cloud the mind

My love, your certain touch penetrates for peace to find