As I sat today in front of my computer in my office to type this note, I noticed that there is a “pad” of sorts on the desk top between me and the screen.  Oh sure, I’ve always known it was there.  It’s not like it snuck up on me.  I see it every time I come into my office.  In fact, I use this “pad” when I am studying and taking notes that I actually write down using paper and a pen and ink.  [I know this is a difficult concept to understand for modern people who “write” almost exclusively by using keyboards and keypads.  But, the kind of writing I am talking about  – primitively known as “hand-writing” - is still occasionally done, usually by people who learned to write in an earlier era.]  The main reason I write in this way while I am studying is because I believe that both comprehension and recall are enhanced through the process of hand-writing.  I don’t know if there is any science to back up this belief, but that is what I keep telling myself.

Anyway, the “pad” that I use when I am studying and making notes is actually a calendar for the year 2014.  A company called “Lifetouch” sent me this calendar as a gift in the hopes that our church would retain them to produce a “picture directory” of all of our church members.  We did not avail ourselves of their services, but I have certainly gotten a lot of use of their calendar gift over the last 6 years.    

Except, this calendar was not actually designed to be used as a writing pad.  Sure, you can use it as a “pad” to write on.  But that is not the best way to use a paper calendar.  A paper calendar is really a way of measuring time.  A paper calendar is a way of scheduling and keeping track of meetings and appointments.  And yes, you modern people can accomplish the same things with your phone – unless it crashes or runs out of power. 

 One of the fond memories I have from my former life as a lawyer was an incident which happened many years ago.  I was sitting in a Pre-trial Conference with the lawyer for the other side and the Judge.  The main purpose of this Conference was to select a date for the trial of the case.  The other lawyer was slick and hip and cool; and he came to the Conference armed with one of the earliest “Blackberry” devices to hit the market.  He couldn’t stop talking about how amazing this device was, and about all the things he could make it do with just the click of a button.  Eventually at this Conference, the time came to schedule a trial date.  Both of the lawyers had to consult our calendars to make sure the proposed trial date did not conflict with anything that was already scheduled.  With my paper calendar, I was able to make that determination in seconds.  But then, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, the Judge and I sat and waited, and waited, and waited while the other lawyer tried in vain the retrieve his calendar from the “Blackberry”.  Finally, the Judge told him to put the “Blackberry” down and make use of another primitive device - a “landline telephone” - to call his secretary so that she could examine a primitive paper calendar and get a trial date selected.  As we finished, the Judge kindly suggested that the other lawyer better show up with a paper calendar in hand to any future Pre-trial Conferences.  It was an embarrassing moment for the other lawyer, and a moment I have enjoyed recalling, perhaps a little too much!

Before I began typing this note, I decided that maybe I ought to actually take a look inside my “Lifetouch” paper calendar for the first time to see what’s inside.  In addition to the dates of the year and some nice photographs, I found that this calendar has a scripture dedicated to each month.  For instance, the scripture for January, 2014 was this: “He has shown you, O man, what is good.  And what does The Lord require of you?  To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” - Micah 6:8.  Strangely, I have the citation to that very verse written on a sticky note in my office where I see it every day.  But, instead of just seeing “Micah 6:8” every day, wouldn’t it have been better to have actually seen the words of that verse on my calendar?  Wouldn’t it have been better to have actually said those amazing words out loud every day until they could soak deep into my soul?  Until they became a part of who I am as a Child of God?  There is something powerful connected to the repetitive recitation of Holy Scripture, amen?

Things might have been different for me over the years if I had used the calendar for the purposes for which it was designed.  Instead of getting caught up in the many urgent tasks of the day, and struggling to accomplish as many of those tasks as possible, yet going home at the end of the day exhausted and discouraged because there was still so much left to do, wouldn’t it have been better to have constantly been reminded of the actual words of this verse?  Wouldn’t it have been better to remember that The Lord expects only a few simple things from His children?  By using the calendar as a writing pad, I did manage to accomplish some things.  But I really missed out on things that would have been so much better because I didn’t use the calendar gift correctly.   

I wonder how many of us are not using the gift of our lives in the way The Creator intended for us to use them?  I wonder how many of us are taking the beautiful spiritual gifts that He has given us, and instead of using them as designed to display the glory of God, we just use them for “writing”?  It’s a little bit like when children open presents at Christmas, but instead of enjoying the wonderful toys, they end up playing with the box and the wrapping paper, while the parents wonder why they went to all the trouble to find and wrap and deliver the perfect gift under the Christmas tree.  I wonder if this kind of behavior with the gifts The Lord has given us ever discourages “The Giver of every good and perfect gift” – James 1:17?

As we approach the end of a long and dark year, and as we all eagerly anticipate new beginnings in the New Year, maybe we can finally take the time to look at and think about whether or not we are really properly using the gifts He has given us.  Maybe we can resolve to make some changes to how we will use His gifts in the New Year - changes that will strengthen The Kingdom, and bring honor and glory to God. 

~Shepherd Ambrose Ramsey