I’m thinking that there are some people who don’t know the definition of the word “punctuality.” Some of us know what it means, yet we aren’t very good at it.

Punctuality, contrary to what some may think, is not the usage of commas, semicolons and periods in sentence construction. That would be punctuation. (Some of us aren’t punctual and can’t punctuate either)

Punctuality, of course, has to do with doing things at the determined time and arriving “on time.” It’s promptness. Being punctual means not being late.

For some people, being late is a fact of life. It’s a habit that seems to have the ability to work into an individual’s DNA.

We all know people who are chronically late for everything. This would indicate that tardiness becomes a habit. For example, many of us know families who are late arriving at church nearly every Sunday of the world.

It doesn’t matter whether church starts at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. or noon, these people are not going to be on time. You can bet your last dollar on it. The interesting thing, I’ve noticed, is that these latecomers are some of the nicest people around. I’ve wondered why that is. Maybe they have a carefree lifestyle that just makes them pleasant people.

I was accused as a high school kid as having possibly set the record for tardies in an early morning church seminary class. The gung ho, enthusiastic, rookie teacher was concerned about me.

He made a home visit to me and my parents. I was a bit shocked when he offered to help me with milking the cows and my other farm chores in the morning so as to help me get to class on time.

I thought that it would be nice to take him up on his offer. I would have had him load the truck with corn silage each morning and feed the cattle. But I suppressed that thought and declined his help. (Mom and Dad would have thought that I was being a “smart aleck” or some other kind of “smart animal.”)

In the presence of my parents, I said that I’d “do better.” I did do better but always felt that I missed a great opportunity to get help in the silage pit.

I have been working on my punctuality for many years now. I think I’ve improved at being on time to most meetings and events. Church meetings used to be a bit of a weak spot – not so much anymore.

I’ve always been pretty darn good at being on time for movies and football games. One has to have priorities in the striving for punctuality. I have been stopped by cops while on my way to the showhouse and football stadiums.

Speaking of football, Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, became well known for what has been called “Lombardi Time.” It is the opposite of what is jokingly referred to by many in Sanpete and elsewhere, as “Mormon Standard Time.” That is a clever invention used by LDS people to excuse lateness in every circumstance.

Coach Lombardi felt that his players and coaches should be fifteen minutes early to every important meeting. Any extra time waiting could be productively used to “catch one’s breath,” and prepare otherwise for success.

Studies have shown that adults generally underestimate their preparation time by approximately thirty per cent. If we would plan to be fifteen minutes early to an event, we often would find ourselves just getting there right on time. Planning merely to be on time, often results in being late because we are so prone to underestimate our preparation time.

Some events demand our punctuality. Airport flight departures are a good example. I’ve learned that one the hard way.

Stage plays and concerts usually fall in this category as well. It’s embarrassing to stumble across people in the dark to find your seat after the event has already begun.

When this has happened to me, it takes a few minutes for my blood pressure to decline into its normal “stage one hypertension zone” and my breathing to not sound like I have just run a marathon. It’s so much better to be in a relaxed condition operating on Lombardi time.

Hey! — forgive the abrupt ending to this column. I’m running late and I need to make my deadline. — Merrill

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