The Importance of Time Management – Bill's Weekly Inspiration

To My Magnificent Agents, Staff and Friends:

With the elections looming this Tuesday, I have been thinking all week about something that I could use in this week’s Weekend Motivation that would not be partisan, yet still have some relationship to politics and have some useful meaning. Then I recalled a story I have used in the past to illustrate how important it is for us to manage our time wisely. While some may find the story a bit “racy,” clearly it is no worse than the personal attack ads that today’s candidates routinely inundate us with. But the underlying message is quite valuable…never, never, never be late.

After twenty-five years in the same parish, Father O’Shaunessey was saying his farewells at his retirement dinner. An eminent member of the congregation – a leading politician – had been asked to make a presentation and a short speech, but was late arriving.

So the priest took it upon himself to fill the time, and stood up to the microphone:

“I remember the first confession I heard here twenty-five years ago and it worried me as to what sort of place I’d come to… That first confession remains the worst I’ve ever heard. The chap confessed that he’d stolen a TV set from a neighbor and lied to the police when questioned, successfully blaming it on a local scallywag. He said that he’d stolen money from his parents and from his employer; that he’d had affairs with several of his friends’ wives; that he’d taken hard drugs, and had slept with his sister and given her VD. You can imagine what I thought… However I’m pleased to say that as the days passed I soon realized that this sad fellow was a frightful exception and that this parish was indeed a wonderful place full of kind and decent people…”

At this point the politician arrived and apologized for being late, and keen to take the stage, he immediately stepped up to the microphone and pulled his speech from his pocket:

“I’ll always remember when Father O’Shaunessey first came to our parish,” said the politician, “In fact, I’m pretty certain that I was the first person in the parish that he heard in confession..”

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote – a very different thing.” -Walter H. Judd

Have an awe-full weekend and don’t forget to vote this Tuesday. Your vote is important.

Bill Bacque