Today, along with a hundred million or so other viewers in the US, I will watch the Super Bowl. In recent years, I have shifted my focus from the game to more of a balance between the game and the commercials. While everyone knows it takes many hours to play a 60 minute long professional football game, it is a bit surprising to learn that the actual playing time amounts to just under 11 minutes (10 minutes and 43 seconds according to a recent Wall Street Journal study).
So What?
The next time you think about a football game remember the number 11. From this point forward you will know the actual average playing time, which has remaining relatively stable over the last one hundred years.
Think about common experiences in your life and in the life of faith that often last a set length of time. Choose at least one activity you participate in on a regular basis from each category (one regular activity that isn’t religious in nature and one that is) and do an informal time study to learn what actually happens during that time. Share your statistics and how this analysis has enriched your understanding of how you are using your time.