“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as
wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians
5:15-16).
I mentioned in my last post that I’ve done very little
decorating in our current home. I have, however, tried to carry over a few
principles that I put into practice in our Little House on the Corner. Like the
Master Bedroom Haven, conversation starters in the dining room, and my bucket
of rocks (yeah, we’ll get to that one, hold on). And the fact that I didn’t hang
clocks. Anywhere.
If you come visit me, you might notice that the only time
pieces are the digital clocks on my kitchen appliances. Or you might not. You
might just lose track of time and never realize it. YES, that is all part of my
maniacal plan to lure you into my lair and keep you forever! Just kidding. Or
am I?
If there is a clock in the room, I watch it. I noticed in
our first apartment that I was constantly glancing up at the clock, feeling
rushed along by that little hand that sternly pointed out how far behind I
always was. I also noticed how frequently our guests glanced at the clock and
seemed to feel that they were imposing if they stayed more than an hour.
When we moved into our house I decided to see what would happen
if I just didn’t hang clocks. And you know what? I was so much less stressed! I
moved through the days at a slower pace, but somehow ended up getting more done,
in a more relaxed manner. Better yet, I noticed something delightful happening
when we had guests over. They stuck around and enjoyed themselves until they
were ready to go home! My husband led Bible studies in our living room that
continued until they had reached a natural stopping point instead of being
dictated by time. Visitors commented that time seemed to stand still when they
came over and they were surprised at how long they had stayed. I like to think
that’s partly because we’re kind of fun people to be around, but I largely
attribute this to the fact that our guests didn’t feel the pressure of a
ticking time bomb on the wall. They were able to relax and, for just a little
while, forget about living life according to a clock.
If you can’t see yourself totally chunking all clocks,
consider banning them from certain rooms. My main purpose for my living room is
to provide a relaxed atmosphere where friends and family can comfortably gather
and enjoy time with one another. So, at the very least, clocks are prohibited
in that room. I don’t want people to feel on edge, or wonder if they’ve
overstayed their welcome. When you’re in my living room, I want you to stay as
long as you want, regardless of the time.
The most important mission this practice accomplishes is
that it allows us more time to share the Gospel. When we have nonbelievers
over, we are able to have in-depth conversations with them that focus on Christ
without worry over how late it is getting. And they don’t have that quick out
of, “Oh, look at the time, I really must
be going!” They simply get immersed in the Word and forget to fret over how
long they have stayed. That’s pretty awesome to watch.
There you have it. One of my secrets to decorating a
comfortable home: Buh-bye, Clocks! (Except, everyone loves whimsical or antique
clocks… Those can still add splendor to your home – just don’t set them to the
correct time :) ).
Of course, we do keep an eye on the time. We glance at the
oven clock to make sure we make it to services when we’re supposed to. And we
do have alarms on our phones. But, in daily life, we take our time because we
are no longer slaves to the time. And that’s something you can give your guests
without putting any effort into it. Probably without them ever even knowing
what it is exactly that makes your home so relaxing. One friend came over every
week, sometimes multiple times a week, for months before looking around one day
and observing, “Hey… You guys don’t have any clocks. I never took the time to
notice that before.”
