WATCH LIVE
EVENTS
NORTHSTAR
GIVE
“Margin finally showed up… right after my calendar ate my spirituality and left me chewing deadlines and to-do lists.” – Northstar Nate.
I decided it was time to finally meet Margin. I opened my calendar, found a rare pocket of free time, and sent the invite. “Meeting with Margin: 10 a.m.—don’t be late,” I typed, imagining a productive, calm hour ahead. I even set reminders, color-coded the event, and promised myself coffee and dignity. My inbox dinged back a confirmation: “Accepted.”
I showed up early for the meeting with Margin, dressed professionally, briefcase in hand, coffee in the other. I checked my notes, rehearsed my questions, and even practiced small talk. Margin didn’t show. I waited. Ten minutes. Twenty. I considered leaving, but something in me knew this was important. I sent a polite follow-up email: “Are we still on for today?” No reply. I sent another.
Finally, my phone rang. Caller ID: Margin. I answered cautiously. “Sorry I’m late,” it said, breezy and unapologetic. “I was with Creativity and Sleep. You know how it is.” I blinked. “Uh… yes?”
I thought scheduling a meeting with Margin meant I’d finally get some peace. I was wrong. Margin showed up like a mischievous sprite, flopping onto my calendar at 10 a.m., smirking. “Late again,” it said, stretching lazily across my Outlook reminders. “But don’t worry—I brought Chaos and Urgency.”
By 10:15, emails had multiplied, calls buzzed, and my to-do list was a monstrous hydra. Margin darted between tasks, poking me: “Notice how busy you are? Maybe slow down.” I tried to catch it, but every time I reached out, it slipped through, giggling, leaving me breathless and baffled.
At lunch, it perched on my sandwich. “Ever tried eating without scrolling your phone?” I did. For five glorious minutes, nothing demanded me. Margin clapped. “See? Life tastes better when you pause.”
By mid-afternoon, Margin had introduced me to Reflection and Stillness. “Meet them,” it whispered. “They’re shy but essential.” I realized I’d been so busy doing that I’d forgotten why I did anything at all. Margin winked. “Space is sacred, Nate. God shows up there.”
By the end of the day, I understood: Margin wasn’t a meeting—it was a guide, a teacher reminding me that true margin isn’t a calendar block or a scheduled hour. It’s breathing room in life, in faith, in relationships.
As a believer, I finally got it: it’s not enough to schedule margin; we actually need to create space in our hearts, our minds, and our calendars. Margin is where we notice God, reflect on His work, and hear His still, small voice instead of the dinging of emails and notifications.
I laughed at myself, imagining Margin lounging on a tiny chaise, sipping coffee, waiting for me to make room. So I started small—five minutes of silence, a leisurely walk, an afternoon without multitasking. Margin showed up eventually, winking, whispering, “About time you made space for me.”
Turns out, creating margin isn’t just smart—it’s spiritual. And yes, it’s worth dressing up, showing up, and sometimes waiting.
Discussion Questions:
- If Margin showed up late to your life like it does to Nate’s calendar, how would you recognize it—and would you even let it in?
- Nate keeps inviting Margin over for coffee while Chaos and Urgency crash the party—how can we create space in our lives so Margin actually gets a seat?