waste time

I continue to wonder why it is difficult to get together with no agenda. Perhaps it is a symptom of our culture and the way we choose to live.

I challenge you to try this: go ask someone to meet you for coffee and when they respond, “What’s up? What do you want to meet about?” Say “Nothing really, just want to catch up and spend some time with you and hear more about what is going on in your life.” Then wait for the person to come out of shock. It’s the absurdity of having a meeting with no agenda; to meet and have absolutely nothing to accomplish. What a waste of time! Unhurried time spent with another person with nothing to accomplish and to meet without the intent of getting something from them is considered by many to be a waste.

“What a waste!” was the phrase that shot out of Judas’ mouth when the prostitute came into the Pharisees’ house and broke the alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over Jesus’ head. “Why this waste! That perfume could have been sold and given to the poor!” The religious guys thought, “Man, I don’t think Jesus knows who is touching him, and surely if he did, he would condemn her.” However, what is often thought of as a waste, things unproductive or useless can possibly the very things Jesus values.

I argue that it is time spent with another person with absolutely no agenda that could actually be the best use of our time. It’s difficult for us to find this time together. To find this time to sit and talk with no need to hurry; no need to feel like the time is being wasted, and to not feel like there are other things more important.

I encourage you and I to “waste” more time with people.