When I was an intern, very early on in my ministry, I was frequently late for staff meeting. Eventually, my supervisor took me aside and said, “When you are late, you’re communicating that you’re the most important person in the room– and that others can wait for you because you’re that important.”

Obviously, that was not what I was intending to communicate. I just felt like I was very busy. My supervisor explained with a phrase I will never forget: “You’re not late because you didn’t run fast enough. You’re late because you didn’t start early enough.”