an interesting exercise . . .
I haven't worn a watch, except for Sundays, in nearly three weeks now. It really is for a sort of practical reason - it's so darn hot here in N.W. Oklahoma, and the watch I wear has a leather band, and leather bands tend to get really stinky when you sweat on them too much. So, the watch is sitting in the cup holder in the car, and I have donned my Dad's watch the past two Sunday mornings for worship hour. That's it . . .
There have been three interesting side effects. 1. the skin on my arm under the watch is now just as tanned as the rest of my arm. 2. I still know what time it is - a factor of a rather good internal clock, and a plethora of clocks in my reguraly daily path, and 3. I haven't accomplished near as much in the last three weeks as I usually do.
I'd be interested in hearing your theological or comical responses to this phenomenon.
BTW - sorry I haven't been posting much lately. It's a factor of several things, but suffice to say that I intend to say a little more as these days ensue.
posted by the sojourning pilgrim @ 12:23 PM
6 Comments:
It's all that sun you're getting on your white wrist that's making it harder to get things done.
Recently the battery in my watch died and I haven't made it to a store that sells the little batteries to replace it. I find that I look at my wrist a lot less, but I too seem to be less productive.
Of course the heat itself could play into effect. Who wants to work when the cool of the day is in the 90's? And the hot part...well that's just good for swimming I think.
No, I'm afraid our PDAs will be like VCRs when we get ready to die. Old technology.
First let me say that I'm coming out of lurker status and commenting for the first time. I'm new to the full time pastoring vocation after a 30+ year career in the oil and gas production world - more on my calling only if you're interested.
I've longed for the day when I could get by without a watch on my wrist. I carried a pocket watch for years until I took a position behind a desk where digging in my pocket to check the time became impractical and I've been there for 25 years (watch not desk). I've worked without a watch off and on for the last month and find it a very good thing - I'm in the heatwave as well, living in SW Kansas. I'm not sure it leads to lower productivity but that's hard for me to judge given I've not yet found the rhythm of small church pastoral work - nothing feels too productive at this point. I can see the clock in the back of the sanctuary so I really don't even need the watch on Sunday. I'm still not past the habit of it - but maybe I'll get there. As for heirlooms - I don't have my Dad's watch but I do have his fountain pen and my grandfather's as well. It's nice to have some continuity.
To all,
I am surprized at how much activity this post has generated. Very interesting . . .
Pastor Kelly,
You've said volumes about the small church pastoral scene. I've been at this for 8 years now, and I still feel that sense of unproductivity. We work, pray, write, preach, and still stand at the head of an empty aisle on Sunday mornings. All of the barometers they taught us in seminary as to being able to gauge our "success" are irrelevant.
And there is a rythym to this calling. We balance the planning of worship and writing of a sermon with taking care of the flock, mowing the yard, and serving in the community. There is something of an expectation that we "man" the office, but we know intuitively that our most important work, other than the sermon, takes place outside the office.
I'm not sure if my brothers wanted a shot at Dad's watch, but it's on my wrist, and I'm proud to have it. Dad passed a year ago April, and the surprize of his absence still sneaks up on me.
Thanks for dropping in and offering thoughtful insight.
Gentle Warrior and Leslee,
I wonder what Travis would do with a PDA??? I suspect Chelsea would short circuit it's innerds with too much activity.
I do not wear a watch. I have not worn one since I was 22. I have found that there are plenty of clocks around...especially with as much time as I spend in front of the computer.
The heirloom issue is interesting. I have a gold pocket watch that was a gift from my mother on my 21st birthday. It will likely be something I pass down. But I have not received such a thing...
...except for my preaching robes.
I pastor a little Native American church down in Watonga. I wear a watch and we have a clock in the sanctuary. But I pay little attention to either on Sundays. You see, we operate strictly on "Indian time." Indian time varies. Generally speaking, Indian time is about 30 to 45 minutes behind clock time.
The Watonga paper declares that we start our worship service at 11:00am. I show up at the church at about 11:15am. Between 11:30-11:40, three people will walk into the sanctuary (regular as Indian clockwork). At 11:45 we'll begin our hymn service. By 12:00 noon, we complete our hymn service and take up the offering. I begin preaching at between 12:10-12:15. By 12:30, give or take ten minutes, I close the sermon and pronounce the benediction.
I don't watch the clock. My people don't watch the clock either. They will stay with me as long as I preach. Nobody's in a hurry to do anything or go anywhere. Occasionally I'll have someone walk in about five minutes before the benediction. We have an unwritten rule abound our church. If you get there before I pronounce the benediction, it counts; you've been to church... :-)
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