Do-Over

By Pastor Paul Gauche

Today’s Word: ‘Do-Over’ as in… what would you do-over if you hade an extra hour?

We’re just slightly over one week into what is known as Standard Time. So, how’s that working for you? Since Sunday morning, March 14, 2021, we’ve been observing what’s known as Daylight Saving Time. You know, long, lazy evenings with light until nearly 10:00 PM. Lovely. With a shift back to Standard Time, we received an extra hour; we got an extra 60 minutes in the span of one 24-hour period. 25 hours. Not 24. Not 26. 25 hours. And just to make sure none of us would miss it, the reminders went something like this: “Remember, we’re falling back this weekend. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night.”

And then this: “We get an extra hour of sleep.”

One hour was given back to us. An extra hour. A do-over. Which raises the question: If you looked at that one hour not so much as an extra hour of sleep (although that’s always nice), what if you looked at it as an opportunity for a do-over? How would you respond? For example, if you got a do-over in any of your relationships, what would that mean? Would you enjoy some extra time with someone you love? Would you use that extra time to tend to a word of confession, to apologize for misstepping or misspeaking? Would that do-over give you some extra margin to rest, recuperate, to be instead of more doing simply? Would that extra hour give you time to consider reaching out to someone who‘s been struggling? Would you read a book? Would you write a card of thanks to someone, expressing gratitude?

An added moment, a do-over to tend to what’s most important, could change so many things.

So here’s the challenge for this week: I’m giving you an extra hour right now to reconsider whatever it is that needs doing over in your life. A do-over, just one hour to embrace in some new, life-giving way. What will you do with that extra hour today?

#100days50words

Paul Gauche is the Pastor of Life Transitions at Prince of Peace. His posts are part of his #100days50words project, where he blogs about a different word each week. You can follow his project on Instagram (@pgauche) or on his blog, Thriving Rhythms.