Margin

Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37-38).

Years ago, on a flight to Los Angelos, I read a book called Margin. The author, Richard Swenson, M.D., argued that we fill our lives too full. He used the image of the old blue lined paper used for writing. It also had pink lines creating margins. One did not write in the margins. He urged his readers to maintain margins in their lives. If this was a needed reminder in 2002, surely it is as necessary today. I don’t think many of us have heeded his advise.

It’s become such a norm for our schedules to be packed and for our attention to be pulled in many directions. This means we do not have time to notice the spiritual hunger in us or around us. But what if we made room?

What if we slowed down enough to listen – not just to sermons and podcasts but to the people in our everyday lives? Creating margin is not just about better time management or learning how to balance it all – it’s a spiritual practice, a countercultural pursuit.

It’s believing if we leave margin in our calendars, God will show us where He’s already moving. It’s replacing our fears of not doing enough with having the faith that Jesus has already finished the work of salvation and is presently doing more than we realize.

Someone once said, “You don’t need to bring Jesus into your workplace – He’s already there.” What if we start praying that Jesus will help us join conversations he is already having with coworkers, neighbours, with strangers in line at the grocery store.

What if God is already at work in our everyday lives, waiting for us to notice?

This shift means intentionally creating space in our lives to pay attention to what God is doing. It could be taking a longer walk and praying as we go, asking God to open our eyes to someone who needs encouragement. It might mean setting aside an evening for inviting over a neighbour. It could look like asking the grocery clerk how their day is going and really listening to the answer.

God’s mission doesn’t need superstars. It needs people willing to be present daily. It’s being attentive to the Spirit, available to others and being grounded in the belief Jesus is already leading the way.

When we create margin to join Jesus in His work, we may find the stagnation that sometimes dogs our Christian life starts to crack open with wonder. Conversations happen, stories emerge, relationships get kindled, and joy re-enters. We’re no longer just surviving spiritually on our hamster wheels; we begin to thrive as we participate in harvesting adventures far bigger than ourselves.

So, as we take Jesus at His word, let’s ask the Lord of the harvest to send us, and let’s slow down enough to follow Him. Not just in the rush of church activity, but in the quiet courage of everyday presence.

Because the harvest is plentiful, and Jesus is already there.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

Wherever God takes you today, may He fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and that you may live carefully—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.