Religion: A Pastor Ponders

The Tyranny of the Urgent

by Pastor William Jenkins

July 29, 2005

I am not very different from others who seem always to be in a hurry. With me it’s a metabolism thing. There is always someplace to go or something to do. That’s not such a bad thing. It keeps life interesting and often gives us a sense of purpose. But if we are not careful, being hurried and busy can drain the life right out of us.

Is there something really that urgent that must be done? Is there someplace that urgent you must go? Occasionally, we need to grab ourselves by the collar and slow ourselves down just a bit; to set ourselves free from the tyranny of the urgent. The damage done by the urgent is that we feel compelled to give all of our time to the necessary things and completely neglect the important things.

This was brought home to me in a forceful way in 1978. Our family had just finished the evening meal when I excused myself and said to my wife, “Honey, I’ve got to go to a meeting. See you about 9:30 or 10.” Our oldest child was six years old. She asked in a disappointed voice, “Daddy, do you have to go again?” A blow from a baseball bat would have felt better. Her words haunted me for several days. I came to realize that the necessary things were robbing me of the important things.

I began to re-examine my life and the things that were most important to me. I said a prayer that was answered a few months later. I did not stop going to meetings, I simply prioritized them. I was delivered from the tyranny of the urgent.

Today, I have some wonderful memories of my children’s growing up years that I can take with me into my old age. I have no memories of the meetings I attended. There is an appropriate passage from the Bible on the tyranny of the urgent. Take just a minute to ponder Luke 10:38-42.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

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