I’ve been thinking about margin in our lives lately and how in today’s society we seem to be filling our lives with so with so many

ctivi- ties, we are near or over the limit that we can handle.

As I As I drive down Highway 10 in the mornings, it’s not hard to notice those cars sailing past me, well over the speed limit, on their way to work to the south. I’m thinking - why not arrange things in their mornings that they would have more

margin in margin in their lives and get to work with time to spare. Wouldn’t that create less stress? These thoughts reminded me of a book I had read a few years back concerning the topic of margin. I leafed through it again recently reminding myself of some of the words of wisdom the author had written about margin and how to get more of it in your life.

The book is called “Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives” by Richard Swenson, M.D. a Christian author. Although written in 1992 the words are just as applicable today.

On the outside back cover these words are written.

Margin is described as being the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits. It’s something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations. As a society we’ve forgotten what margin is. We are besieged by anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Our relationships suffer. We have unexplained aches and pains. The flood of daily events seems beyond our control. We’re overloaded.

Overload is not having time to finish the book you’re reading on stress.

Margin is having time to read it twice.

Overload is fatigue. Margin is energy.

Overload is red ink. Margin is black ink.

Overload is hurry. Margin is calm.

Overload is anxiety. Margin is security.

Overload is the disease of the 90’s. Margin is the cure.

The author mentions many areas of overload such as information overload and debt overload. But the one that stood out in my mind is Ministry Overload. The author writes this. Seeing the great number of needs, leaders and laypeople often place unbearable demands upon themselves – and others. Pastors and other leaders too are at risk because they expect too much of themselves. A line must be drawn this side of overload if we are to stay healthy. Chronic overloading is not God’s will. It is okay to draw a line.

Chronic overloading also has a negative effect on our spiritual lives. We have less time for prayer and meditation, less energy for service, and less interest in relationship.

If we don’t move to establish effective priorities, overloading will continue to fill up our schedules and keep us captive. We must learn the art of setting limits. And we must learn to respect such limits in others.

The author has a whole prescription for finding margin in every area of your life and I trust if this topic of margin hits home you might find this book and read more.

I’ll close off with these words directly hand written by the author inside the book in person (I met him at a conference). “It is my hope that margin will nourish your lives in the direction of things that matter most.”