Yesterday I was walking across Preston Center to the west of our church campus, and was horrified to discover that Christmas lights have already been strung around the trees in the parking lot. It's not yet October; it was 98 degrees on Wednesday; and the Christmas season is coming? Get ready for stress and more stress.

A few years ago, The Dallas Morning News carried a story on the growth of the Christmas lights installation profession in our city. This business has quadrupled in six years, with costs ranging from $100 to $7,500 per home. Why do people now pay to put Christmas lights on their homes? The number one reason: it saves them time. We understand the appeal, don't we?

We are working on average 20 percent more hours per week than we were in 1973. But the quality of our lives is not improving; in fact, it is suffering. Recent studies report that 60 percent of successful professionals suffer from chronic stress and depression. 48 percent of top corporate executives report that their lives are empty and meaningless.

For the past 25 years the American Index of Social Health has tracked the well-being of Americans. While the gross domestic product has risen continually for the past 25 years, the social health index is 52 percent lower than it was in 1973. We have more, but enjoy life far less.

Recently I reread a little booklet entitled "The Tyranny of the Urgent," by Charles Hummel. Its central point is simple: there is a great distinction between the urgent and the important. The urgent demands our time, but usually wastes it; the important redeems it, gives it eternal significance. Doing urgent things takes from us our energy, peace, and joy; doing important things gives us fulfillment, significance, peace, joy.

How much time do you spend doing the urgent? How much time do you spend doing something important? You and I can trade the urgent for the important in the remaining months of 2005. I'd like to suggest proof this morning.