Fluff is my word for activities with very little value in my life. My goal is to remove all the fluff possible from my life, but occasionally I will choose to engage in fluff just for fun or relaxation.

There are only four of us left at the lodge; we will be coming home in a couple of days, fishing has slowed down, and I already have enough fish caught and in the freezer to fill two fifty-pound fish boxes to take on the airplane with me, so last night when we got back from fishing I downloaded a mystery-thriller novel into my Kindle and sat up until 3:00 am and read it. I got up this morning at 10:00 am, and it is now almost noon, and I am drinking coffee and writing this blog. Now that is about as fluffy as it gets, and for good measure, I popped and ate a bowl of popcorn. Whoooeeee, I am bad! 🤪😁

I read two or three novels a year, usually by Tom Clancy, in one sitting and almost always on a trip, in the airport, or on a plane.

The fluff that I engage in is not bad, but it does take time from other things, and it is usually addicting. I never watch television except for an occasional football or basketball game. I go to two or three movies a year, and I read two or three novels a year. All those numbers could increase significantly because of the enjoyment factor if I let them. I do watch Monday night football with a group of guys each week during football season, but the fellowship with them is much more the value than the game itself; sometimes, I hardly watch the game for all the talking that takes place.

So, I fish, I play golf, I hunt, I restore old cars, I watch sports, I sit in the hot tub, I go to movies, I read mystery novels, and I eat pop corn. How much is OK, and how much is foolish? Here are a couple of verses that I have memorized, and meditate on to help me have wisdom with this question.

Ephesians 5:15-16
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

As you know, the keyword in time management is balance. There is family, ministry, personal walk and relationship with the Lord, job, home responsibilities, relationships, personal renewal of emotional energy, physical health, hobbies, and fluff.

The key for me to maintain balance in all that I do is my personal goals. I write them, read them often, and think about how I am doing. The desire to accomplish my dreams kept hot by reading them keeps the fluff in my life from taking over. I start thinking about and writing my goals on October 1st, so I have plenty of time to think, pray, and plan my life.