Things take too long. I like the Beatles early records because you could listen to them in about twenty minutes or so. Today’s CD’s are just way too long. I listened to a worship CD last week and by the time it was done I didn’t want to worship for quite awhile. A double record is ok because you get a break. But people over produce. I guess they think we need to get our money’s worth. I’d like them put out more short CD’s.
Books are too long, too. I write books. I am on my fifteenth and sixteenth now. I always make them too short and then have to add stuff to keep everyone happy. Those famous Russian writers are the worst. I have read several of Dostoevsky’s books. I liked them but I had to read them in spurts and use Cliff Notes to keep things straight. I like Hemingway’s book the Old Man and the Sea. It is very short. And yet very powerful. I wish I could write like him. But I think you’ll agree books could be at least one-fourth shorter.
Movies are too long, too. I think they could be twenty minutes shorter and be better on average. I saw one the other day and I couldn’t remember how it started before it ended.
TV shows usually are just perfect. A show that is one-half hour long is great. I like them best when then keep the same theme going a few weeks.
I think sermons are way too long. We had a service that lasted 35 minutes on Labor Day. It was fabulous. Everyone stayed and talked a long time. The kids were in the service and they were grateful. I seem to have trouble getting a sermon just right. Usually what I prepare is too short when I get into it, so I try and lengthen it and make it too long. I have been thinking about just speaking fifteen to twenty minutes and leaving it like that. But then I worry the music people will go too long and I’m more interesting.
Conversations are usually too long for me too. I hate small talk. Some people just have to go on and on. I had lunch with a businessman this week. He was ready to go after forty minutes. I said all right! And off we went. When you’re a pastor people think you like to here them talk a long time. I work hard to hide sometimes. It’s also very hard to end a conversations some times. I have been known to say, “Well, I have to go.â€
I went to a concert that was too short a while back. I think they were smart. I’d like to hear them again. But I think most people were upset. The band had had their gear get hung up on their way to town. They had bought outfits and borrowed instruments for the night. And hence played short. It was great. I really didn’t like most their music anyway. The one song I did like was worth the trip.
Sometimes life feels pretty long to me. Nighttime is usually too short for me. Lunch time is too short too. Golf is too long. The U.S. Open was say too long. If I could edit and produce the world we’d all have a lot more time.
