Adventure with the Clock

Douglas Southall Freeman wrote two Pulitzer Prize winning works on the lives of Robert E. Lee and George Washington. Today, they are still considered the definitive biographies of these extraordinary Americans. Freeman was also the award-winning Editor for several decades of a major newspaper, the RICHMOND (VA) NEWS LEADER. Add to these responsibilities, two daily radio broadcasts, memberships to various boards and civic organizations, as well as, church and other extracurricular activities, and one must ask—how did Freeman do it?

            Part of the answer is found in the biography of Freeman written by his grandson, David E. Johnson. Johnson’s work included the typical daily schedule in Freeman’s later years, as witnessed by a writer from TIME magazine. Johnson called this chapter “Adventure with the Clock.” Here is the schedule:


2:30 A.M. Awake.

2:30-2:44 Dress, shave, devotional.

2:45 Downstairs to kitchen.

2:45-3:08 Prepare and eat breakfast, walk to car.

3:08-3:25 Drive to RICHMOND NEWS LEADER office.

3:25-3:29 Park, walk into building, up to office.

3:30 At desk, Associate Press wires in hand.

3:31-7:58 Read wire dispatches and morning paper, write editorials, mark items for index.

7:58-8:00 Walk to WRNL studio.

8:00-8:15 Broadcast.

8:15-8:17 Walk back to office.

8:17-8:32 Morning staff meeting.

8:32-11:58 Attend to duties of editor. Answer mail, receive visitors, attend meetings, check first edition of paper, block and set editorials. (In his later years, Freeman would, at times, take a brief nap at 11:00 A.M.)

11:58-12:00 Walk to WRNL studio.

12:00-12:15 Broadcast.

12:15-12:17 Walk back to office.

12:17-12:30 Complete last details of day ad prepare for next day. Walk to car.

12:30-12:47 Drive home.

12:48-2:00 Lunch with his wife, Inez, work in the garden, walk the grounds. A less structured time.

2:00-2:30 Nap.

2:30-6:30 Work in study on historical projects.

6:30-8:45 Dinner; evening with family.

8:45 Retire for the evening.


         I have known a number of people who have slept the same amount of hours per night as Freeman, but few have been so focused. Johnson’s book entitled DOUGLAS SOUTHALL FREEMAN, is a fascinating read of a marvelous historian, as well as, one of this nation’s most influential leaders in the media. Freeman died over fifty years ago, but his influence lives on.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. After what happened to the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorns, and with TCU probably not even receiving a shot at the National Title, I refuse to become emotionally attached to a Texas team this football season. I cannot take the pain.

2. Jerry Jones is a nice George Steinbrenner.

3. At last, it feels like autumn.

4. No one wants to fulfill someone else’s vision.

5. Finally, and most importantly, the older I get, the more I love my wife.

How To Pray

Matthew 6:9-13 is often called “The Lord’s Prayer.” Actually, as many in Christian history have noted, “The Lord’s Prayer” is probably the prayer Jesus prays in John 17. We can think of the prayer on the Sermon on the Mount as “The Disciples’ Prayer.”

This prayer has assisted me in my prayer life on and off for over 30 years. There are many nuggets here, rich in spiritual content, which give us insight into God and into people.

I like acronyms. I know there a lot of acronyms out there for assisting people in their prayer lives. Let me give you another based upon “The Disciples’ Prayer.” It's longer than most, I know, but my hope is you will find this a help.

So, without further a due, here is how to pray:

9You should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, help us to honor your name.10Come and set up your kingdom, so that everyone on earth will obey you, as you are obeyed in heaven. 11Give us our food for today. 12Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others. 13Keep us from being tempted and protect us from evil. CEV

Deference… to God

Invite… God into the world

Sovereign… may God be Supreme Ruler on earth as in heaven

Comply… with the will of God

Implore… God to meet my needs

Pardon… others as God has pardoned me

Lead… me from temptation

Extract… me from evil

Defer. God is holy; he is sanctified; he is set apart. He is the One who, when Isaiah caught just a glimpse of His glory, was moved to proclaim that he was a man of unclean lips. When you pray, you begin by giving God glory.

Invite. This world would be a better world if God were more fully involved in it. God will not force himself into person’s life. He allows us the freedom to invite Him in.

Sovereign. God reigns in heaven. In heaven, there is no doubt who is king. May those of us on earth offer the same recognition to God that all of the beings in heaven do.

Comply. We are called to submit to the will of God. Again, in heaven, no doubt exists as to whose will, will be done. There is only one “will” in heaven. On Earth, there are roughly 6.8 billion “wills”—and counting. We pray that only one will exist on earth–God’s.

Implore. It is hard to pray for God to meet our needs when we have a pantry full of food. Yet, we should remember the biblical reminder that God traditionally taught his people to look to him, each day, for sustenance. That was all they could count on. Tomorrow would take care of itself.

Lead. We so often desire to be tempted. We often enjoy the titillation. Jesus encourages us to pray to God that He will lead us away from temptation. Our will should assert in prayer that we wish to not even get close to sin.

Extract. When Jesus led his disciples in prayer, he modeled for us a prayer that asks God to deliver us from evil. If we desire to be like Jesus, we pray to God that he will lead us away from temptation and deliver us from the impact of the work of the devil. In doing so, we become more like Jesus, which helps us fulfill our humanity.

I think it is not a coincidence that the root of the word “discipline” is the word disciple. Disciples are followers. We are certainly followers of Jesus. We desire to discipline ourselves to be what He would have us to be. Part of this discipline is the discipline of prayer. May we pray faithfully, and may God bless us as we pray.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. If you find many errors today, don’t blame my usual editor, Sherry Bobbitt. She is out today due to an injury and hopes to return tomorrow. I REALLY hope she returns tomorrow.

2. We had something happen in our AM worship service yesterday that I am sure gratified Chuck Munoz, our worship leader. He led us in the singing of “There’s a Stirring,” which is definitely a stirring song. I was watching the audience; beginning at the back and moving to the front, people were so moved they began to stand as we sang the words “rise up.” Definitely a beautiful moment.  

3. Jerry Jones is a true visionary when it comes to the business side of football. And, as an owner, I have only one criticism: he needs to fire his general manager. Over the years, his general manager has made terrible personnel decisions and, occasionally, poor coaching hires. The day Jerry Jones fires his general manager—Jerry Jones—and turns the reins over to his son, Stephen, will be a better day for the franchise. Stephen may prove to be a poor choice, but he will be better than his dad.

4. The BCS is un-American. It is the weak attempt of university presidents and football coaches to be like old Europe—to advance, you’ve got to have the right blood. Sorry, Boise State and TCU, merit has nothing to do with your chances to succeed.

5. Who do I like tonight in Game 5 of the World Series? Loyalty motivates me to select Cliff Lee and Texas. However, I really wish I had the religious acumen to perform an exorcism on the Ranger bats.