WHAT IS YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE IN QUARANTINE?

During this unprecedented enforced stay-at-home period, and social distancing, it is imperative to be disciplined in keeping to a daily schedule of activities in order to retain a healthy lifestyle and to avoid slipping into bad habits. Too much watching the news and streaming movies and tv shows can result in depression and mindlessness. I have found that balancing my activities and feeding my mind and spirit are essential to maintaining a positive attitude. Let me share with you what I am doing to encourage you to make the most of this time so that you do not waste it.

My day begins with coffee and toast and settling down for an hour of Bible Reading (I use the Scripture Union, Encounter with God notes), reading a couple of hymns from a hymnbook, a devotional from Through the Bible Through the Year by John Stott, Lenten Meditations from my church and Trinity School for Ministry, the daily Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer, and prayers from The Valley of Vision. I write in my Journal what I have learned and want to retain, and my review of the previous day’s activities and concerns. I spend time in prayer, praise, thanksgiving and intercession before getting dressed.

My morning exercises consist of walking to the end of our street and back. My knee problems have curtailed my physical exercises from the extensive walks on the beach I used to do. Getting out of the house and enjoying nature is a special time of thanksgiving for creation and all my blessings. I sometimes encounter neighbors and we exchange greetings and news.

When I return I catch up on the news through my emails and blogs. There is so much to absorb but I try not to spend too much time on current events when they are so depressing. I limit how much time I spend on Facebook as well. If I am doing a post for my blog I work at my desk putting it together. My goal is to provide something inspiring and edifying for those who read it.

My next task is to work for a while on my retirement project, which is gathering material for a book on the theology of my mentor, John Stott. To do that I have to read everything he has written which comes to 50 or so books and make notes on them. At the moment I am reading his commentary on Romans.

After a short break for a light lunch I take up my quarantine project which is to relearn my New Testament Greek. My seminary lecturer in Greek was a very dull teacher and I found myself having to do most of the work on my own. I had to sit two examinations in the Gospel of Mark and the letter to the Ephesians in Greek. By the grace of God I passed them but never felt very proficient in Greek and did not maintain using it much in my ministry. I dug out my old Greek books and began reacquainting myself with the Greek language. In addition I have ordered some new manuals and have just completed reading Greek for Life: Strategies for Learning, Retaining and Reviving New Testament Greek by Benjamin L. Merkle and Robert L. Plummer. I am having to relearn English Grammar as well. I have ordered several other aids to assist me and keep me focused.

In the afternoon Antoinette and I may have to go to the Supermarket for groceries and we may get take-out for our supper when we are not eating at home. We are saving a lot of money not eating out these days. To avoid giving the impression that I am spending all my time in my books I want to assure you that we are checking in with one another, catching up on family and other news, sharing our reading and thoughts with one another, and doing the chores that we need to do to keep the household running. We pay our bills and communicate with family and friends through emails, phone calls and Facebook. Often we will have afternoon tea together and share what we have been doing and learning. Antoinette has her own schedule of reading and writing which she often shares with me. We try to encourage one another, pray for one another, help one another in various ways.

Before supper I go for another walk and enjoy the afternoon twilight as the sun is setting between the trees giving a dappled look to the neighborhood. After supper we may watch some television. I like to watch The Virginian, and have been following on Netflix a thirteenth century Turkish adventure story called Resurrection: Ertugrul, which goes on forever.

Before I go to sleep I like to read some literature. I have recently read a biography of C.S. Lewis by Alister McGrath, The Year of Decision 1846 by Bernard De Voto (a history of the westward emigrations and the acquiring of the Western states), The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman (a novel of Jewish children in World War II), a biography of Jordan Peterson, Savage Messiah, by Jim Proser, a selection of the Federalist Papers, a biography of Napoleon by Andrew Roberts and a memoir of the life of Charles Simeon by William Carus. At the moment I am reading some lectures by Dorothy Sayers on Dante’s Divine Comedy, and hope to read it as well.

What are you doing to make the most of your time during this stay-at-home period? St. Paul tells us to “redeem the time”, “making the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:16).