Not Everything has a Burning Fuse

At the end of my recent walk along the West Highland Way, on the last evening a few of us watched the new Mission Impossible film.

In these kinds of films someone’s always defusing a bomb with seconds to spare, racing down hallways, jumping off cliffs, and generally saving the world on an impossible deadline.

The opening titles usually have the iconic burning fuse racing across the screen, a powerful visual metaphor for everything at stake and as usual time is running out – fast!

It’s gripping and fun too, but it also got me thinking.

In real life, we all face true emergencies now and then. Medical issues. Financial crises. Family needs. Things that demand immediate action. These moments matter, and responding well to them can change everything.

But here’s the thing: most of life isn’t lived in “burning fuse” mode.

Or at least—it shouldn’t be.

Some of the most important things in our lives don’t come with dramatic music or countdown clocks.

They just sit quietly, waiting. You can ignore them for a while and nothing seems to happen. But procrastinate long enough, and you’ll feel the consequences!

For instance, recently the engineer arrived to service our gas boiler. If we forgot to do that year after year, then eventually the system would fail.

Or think about regular health checkups, saving for retirement, spending time with your family, or nurturing a friendship. These aren’t emergencies. Not yet at least. But they really matter.

CS Lewis said:

“The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.”

We’re all moving through time at the same speed.

The difference lies in how we use it.

Are we constantly reacting to what’s urgent, or are we giving time to what’s important?

So, the challenge is this: Don’t wait for the burning fuse.

Pay attention to the stuff that doesn’t blow up when ignored—but shapes everything in the long run.

What might fall apart later if it keeps being ignored today?