Exchange Rate (38)

What is the current exchange rate of the U.S. dollar to the Canadian dollar? If you had asked me this while in grade school, my guess would’ve been pretty accurate. Growing up in Spokane, WA, it was close enough to the border of British Columbia, CA to be “in-the-know”. I thought it was absolutely phenomenal that my 70¢ U.S. could purchase $1 Canadian. Now today, that exchange rate is just not the case. My $1 U.S. can only purchase 96¢ Canadian. Even worse, $1 U.S. will barely buy 70¢ Euro.

Although I wouldn’t be surprised if this topic ignited a firestorm of opinions debating how we got to this place with our currency, that’s not why I brought it up. It was actually while coaching soccer last night that the image came to me. I’ll come back to that later.

Yesterday I shared my lack of discipline for a desired prayer life. Distractions and busyness keep me focused on the things of the here and now. What will be here in the years to come, they can wait. I have things to attend to now! Prayer, however, is a beautiful and necessary connection needed for a fulfilling life with the Father. I know this. I mean I truly know this in my being and, yet, I still exchange my time for the meaningless things in the present rather than giving my time to the Father. There is a drought of Godly people to be found, ones not distracted by the world, like when Pharaoh searched for someone to compare to Joseph after interpreting his dream: “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38)

Our currency with the heavenly Father is time. Just like we have a limited amount of money to spend so we also have a limited amount of time available to us. We can try to earn more money by working harder and working extra jobs – not implying that working hard is wrong; we are charged to let no debt remain outstanding except the debt to love one another (Romans 13:8). I’m simply proposing that we can physically work harder in the pursuit of earning more money to spend just like we can exercise more in the hopes that we can live longer (i.e. earn more time). My issue doesn’t really rest on how much of it I have, but rather how I spend what I have.

Time is our human currency and not spending time with God means I perceive a better deal, or exchange rate, for my time with other things.

So yesterday, as I’m coaching – two teams, now there’s time spent – I took a moment to glance up at the sideline and see if the parents were catching our drills. I kind of hope that they can see what we’re doing and reiterate some pointers to their kids on their ride home. Instead of seeing engaged eyes, I noticed only eyes looking down, intently staring at flat, flashy objects. Sure they were probably reading or playing a game. What’s the difference? you might say. Is that really any different than relaxing to read a good novel or working a crossword puzzle? I suppose not, but that really isn’t why it struck me so. I scanned the field where multiple practices of many different age groups were taking place, and I could honestly say 8 out of 10 parents were more interested in using their virtual device than enjoying God’s beautiful creation, both their children and the budding spring landscape welcomed by a warm evening sun.

I’ll be the first to say I love my gadgets, but I hope people are willing to tell me to keep focus on the real things that matter, if my focus strays, like learning to imitate God’s character and enjoying His creation rather my own [creation]. Father, may it be so, that I might truly see the exchange rate is weighted heavily in my favor for spending my human currency for Your character.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Romans 1:21-25

38 days!