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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTORY WORD AND GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT UNPUNCTUALITY
**Introductory Word.
***1. What Is Considered «Unpunctuality»?
***2. It’s Best to Examine Unpunctuality in Contrast to Punctuality
***3. The Issue of Unpunctuality Must Be Considered in Light of Certain Factors
***4. On the View That “People Prone to Lateness Tend to Have Chaos in Other Areas of Their Lives”
***5. A Person’s Punctuality or Lack Thereof Does Not Indicate Their Righteousness or Sinfulness
***6. On the Unhumbled, as the Restless Ones: The Reactions of Those Who Wait
***7. The Issue of a Person’s Disorganization Relates to Moral Theology and the Doctrine of Passions
***8. On Why This Work Will Be Useful to Both Unpunctual and Punctual People

Section 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT UNPUNCTUALITY
**A. ABOUT PUNCTUALITY AND ITS POSSIBLE WRONGNESS

Chapter 1: Introductory word and general questions about unpunctuality

Introductory Word

While developing the topic of humility and lack thereof, I wanted to highlight one specific issue: the issue of unpunctuality when it comes to agreed meetings. This is a common source of dissatisfaction among people, which means this topic naturally touches upon humility and pride, respect and disrespect, obedience and disobedience.

However, as I delved deeper into the subject of unpunctuality, I realized that it is also necessary to address the issue of discernment—or rather, the lack of it—among those who are often late, especially when it comes to the most basic, everyday matters.

Every person needs the ability to plan their time and set priorities in their tasks and actions—this is what I refer to as practical discernment. Proper organization, which fosters punctuality, is impossible without such discernment. If I were to discuss unpunctuality only within the context of humility, I would have to leave out much of what I’ve studied; or, if I tried to fit it into the broader theme of humility, it would get lost among many other issues—which I would prefer to avoid.

Therefore, I’ve decided to present this as a separate topic and relate it to the theme of practical discernment, because within unpunctuality—and, consequently, within poor self-organization—there is often a hidden cause: errors in reasoning about how, when, and what needs to be done in order not to be late.

I will not be offering the usual tips on how to avoid being late or how to wake up on time for work (there’s more than enough of that online). Instead, I will talk about various reasons and mistakes in discernment when it comes to organizing one’s everyday life. Understanding these causes is very important for correcting long-standing personal failings (or, as Christian teaching puts it, for the work of repentance and the struggle against one’s passions).

Unfortunately, it must be acknowledged that not all people find it easy to recognize their own mistakes. Habits can so thoroughly cloud one’s perception that what is wrong may seem right and even normal. This same effect is seen with sin: the sinner often misjudges good and evil.

Now, I will make a few important preliminary remarks.

1. What Is Considered «Unpunctuality»?

According to researchers, the term unpunctuality includes the following:

• Being late to meetings and important events, when people arrive after the agreed time.
• Failing to keep promises on time, when people promise to do something but do not meet the deadline.
• Delays in work and projects, when unpunctual employees miss deadlines or fail to show up to work on time.
• Lack of punctuality at public events, when people arrive late and miss the beginning of an event.
• Missing deadlines in academic settings.
• Failing to meet time expectations in everyday tasks or personal appointments.

In this work, I will focus on being late to personal meetings or social visits, as well as arriving late to work. However, much of what I will say also applies to other types of unpunctuality.

2. It’s Best to Examine Unpunctuality in Contrast to Punctuality

I am a punctual person, and I never used to give much thought to those who are habitually late—beyond simple judgments like “they’re unreliable” or “they’re just slow.” So I don’t have personal experience of what goes on inside such people. But in this work, I will occasionally try to place myself in the shoes of someone unpunctual, and my spiritual discernment—along with some understanding of the patterns and principles of sin—will help me do this.

I also have a relative and a couple of acquaintances who are chronically late; and observing them has helped me see the difference between us more clearly. That’s why I’ll sometimes include comparisons with punctual people—so the logical flaws in the thought patterns and attitudes of unpunctual individuals can be seen more clearly.

Of course, it’s clear that everyone may be late at times. But punctual people usually arrive on time and are only late in rare cases—and for good reason—not due to poor organization or other causes I’ll discuss later. Unpunctual people, on the other hand, rarely arrive on time and are frequently late.

Here’s how someone with a similar perspective expressed it in an online article:

“Do I ever run late? Of course I do. Even with the best intentions, it happens. But I never plan to be late. I never allow myself to ‘shift time around’ just because I think my schedule is more important than yours. I’m not talking about the occasional delay. I’m talking about people who are always late. People who, in fact, never show up on time. You know the type I’m talking about!”

3. The Issue of Unpunctuality Must Be Considered in Light of Certain Factors

1. In this work, I will not be addressing lateness caused by serious unforeseen circumstances—accidents, emergencies, or other events beyond a person’s control. Or, as St. Basil the Great puts it:
   “If a person was delayed due to a necessity arising from the place or the task” (Rules Briefly Stated, rule 136).

I will also not be speaking about parents with small children, because their situation often involves constant, unpredictable challenges (although it’s worth noting that there are many parents with young children who still manage to be punctual).
All other family situations—whether someone lives alone, with teenagers, or with other adults—should not be used as an excuse for habitual lateness.

2. It should also be noted that some instances of lateness are intentional and even calculated. That is, a person may deliberately arrive late in order to make someone wait—for example, to draw attention to themselves or to assert dominance over the person waiting. Sometimes this is even done with a subtle sense of malicious satisfaction, knowing the other person had to wait silently—or worse, feeling forced to say, “It’s okay, no big deal,” out of fear or deference.

This tactic is often used by bosses or those in power who enjoy wielding control over others. I believe that when someone behaves this way, they are driven by a demonic spirit of pride and a desire to humiliate others. However, such people are not truly unpunctual by nature—they are acting out of conscious arrogance and manipulation.

My focus here is not on such prideful manipulators. I am speaking about people who do not intend to be late, who actually want to arrive on time, but for some reason fail to do so—and those who are late without malicious intent.

4. On the View That “People Prone to Lateness Tend to Have Chaos in Other Areas of Their Lives”

After reading the material that follows, the reader will likely recognize the truth of what one psychologist said on an online platform:

“In my professional experience, people who are prone to lateness generally have chaos in other areas of their lives as well. Their boundaries—especially in how they build relationships—are also disordered.”

This observation fully aligns with my own experience, both as someone who knows several such individuals personally and as someone who has studied this issue deeply and thoroughly.

And I’ll say this upfront: very few of these people would agree with the claim that their lives are chaotic. On the contrary, they’re more likely to respond with disagreement or even indignation. You’ll hear things like: “I just don’t get enough sleep,” or “I’m always in a rush,” or “I have too much to do.”
This disagreement persists despite the fact that the definition of the word chaos includes the following:

“1. A lack of order; total confusion (in one’s tasks or self-organization). Used in phrases like: chaos in one’s affairs, chaos in one’s head.
2. A jumbled accumulation of things (in this case, referring to tasks that the person fails to manage).”

Let me say it again: such people do experience chaos—disorder in the way they organize their lives, and chaos in the mind or thinking, which can be described as a lack of discernment—or rather, a peculiar form of reasoning that leads them to constantly run late.

All of this will become clear as we go on. I trust the reader understands that I do not mean to offend anyone with these words. Rather, this is a sorrowful acknowledgment of reality.

5. A Person’s Punctuality or Lack Thereof Does Not Indicate Their Righteousness or Sinfulness

Let me say right away: when speaking about unpunctual people and their faults or mistakes, one must not assume that punctual individuals are free from faults and passions—or that they are kinder or more intelligent than those who are frequently late.

For example, I once knew a man who was never late to work or to meetings, yet he was a deeply dishonest and immoral person, even though he considered himself a Christian. And I myself, despite being punctual all my life, have sinned greatly—especially before I came to faith.

So, no—we are all sinners. Some have more obvious vices or passions, while others may have them in a more subtle form. One person may possess a certain virtue more strongly than another, and so on. This discussion is not about whether a punctual person is “good,” or a late person is “bad.”

Yes, punctuality is a positive character trait. And it belongs to a long list of such qualities—just as unpunctuality and irresponsibility belong to the list of negative traits. Every person’s character includes both good and bad elements.

So I ask the reader not to form a general judgment about unpunctual people—as if they are unintelligent or immoral—just because I will be analyzing their faults related specifically to unpunctuality, irresponsibility, or disorganization. I will be listing various causes that may cast them in an unflattering light.

But that is not my goal. I am writing this in order to help people understand themselves, to recognize their sinfulness, and—through repentance—to begin the work of personal change.

6. On the Unhumbled, as the Restless Ones: The Reactions of Those Who Wait

I’ll say one more thing: I am sure many people deal with those who are often or always late, and the former are the ones left waiting for the latter. But this is not just some relaxed waiting—no! It’s the kind of waiting where a range of emotions can arise, and usually these include: anger, fear, dissatisfaction, irritation, resentment, and internal monologues where all these feelings are expressed. This means the person is internally in a state of passion, not peace, and it is the latecomer who causes this. (That is why this topic is directly related to the question of humility—as both an inner and outer state of peace.)

For now, I’ll give just a few examples from psychologists’ articles that clearly illustrate how this vice manifests in some and affects others.

Online sources:

1. “All of us know someone like this: your coworker who is always at least ten minutes late, a friend you have to tell to arrive thirty minutes early just so she makes it on time for a reservation at your favorite café, the nanny you wait for at the door so you can dash to the bus stop and not be late for work. … Tardiness drives those waiting into a rage. When someone makes us wait, the first thought that comes to mind is: these people are just selfish and don’t value other people’s time. However, a look into the ‘psychology of lateness’ reveals the underlying issues. And there isn’t always a single solution.”
2. “Very often, an unpunctual person may appear quite respectable. They might be intellectuals, remarkable creative individuals, or successful entrepreneurs—and yet still be careless and late to everything. Why? Because Slavs are generally far from punctual and responsible. And while that may sound offensive to us, it is, unfortunately, true. We encounter unpunctuality at every turn. For example, when I recently hired workers for renovations, not a single one arrived on time. Neither the electrician we agreed with for 12:00 (he was 40 minutes late), nor the team of floor sanders (agreed at 9:00, 25 minutes late), nor the closet designer (15:00, 20 minutes late), nor the cleaner (17:00, 30 minutes late). None of them even apologized for being late—even though they made me wait during my working hours, for which I had to get permission from strict management. And this was not a one-off due to traffic or some other emergency. For two weeks, I had to wait, wait, and wait.”
3. “In the first few minutes of waiting, a person is still calm. Around five minutes in, they begin to worry. By the ten-minute mark, irritation sets in as they nervously glance at the clock. By fifteen minutes, they are barely holding themselves back and ready to say everything they think about the latecomer’s behavior. If the weather is good, the time drags slowly but doesn’t cause much physical discomfort. But if it’s cold or raining… well, you can imagine the state and mood of the one waiting. This reaction arises regardless of the person’s temperament or emotional balance. When the latecomer finally arrives, the one who was on time is ready to voice their complaints—whether politely or harshly. Even if they sincerely forgive the person, the unpleasant emotions remain in memory and become associated with the one they had to wait for. … The intense stress and anxiety that come with waiting are, for the person waiting, a form of psychological and physical stress.”

This is what happens to people waiting on the unpunctual. But do the latecomers think about how their lateness disrupts the inner peace of those waiting and creates a conflict? The answer is: not all of them, and not always (and we’ll see more on that later).

I also want to note that after hearing all this, one might think that an unpunctual Christian should realize that it is wrong to treat others this way and to create conflicts—even if they’re hidden—and that they should repent and stop being late. But it’s easy to say “stop being late” and hard to actually do it. In order to change, one needs to understand what exactly to change, to observe oneself carefully, to notice one’s mistakes, and then start acting differently—developing a new habit. And that is why I will go into this problem in great detail.

7. The Issue of a Person’s Disorganization Relates to Moral Theology and the Doctrine of Passions

Also, let the regular Christian reader of my works on moral theology not be surprised that I suddenly discuss this issue, which at first glance seems unrelated to my research focus. I thought so too… But no, it turned out that unpunctuality is usually a form of carelessness (and it’s no coincidence these words are synonyms), and in the explanatory dictionary it is defined as: “carelessness — a negative moral quality of a person, expressed as thoughtlessness, … disorganization, absent-mindedness, irrational actions, irresponsibility for one’s words and deeds.” That is, this is a question of morality and breaking commandments, as well as irrationality/imprudence.

Moreover, a habit— in this case, the habit of being late—belongs to the Christian concept of a passion. For example, Ignatius Brianchaninov (Ascetic Experiences, Vol. 1, Chapter “Habits”) says: “Passions are evil habits; virtues are good habits. This speaks of passions and virtues acquired and assimilated by a person through their activity, through their way of life.” Or Tikhon Zadonsky: “From delay in some sin or from repeated sinning arises a passion or habit of sin. This is how passion for drunkenness, theft, greed, fornication, slander, condemnation, and other lawlessness arises. This passion or habit becomes so strong that it becomes like a second nature of a person. … And the more a person commits some sin and delays in it, the stronger this passion deepens in their heart.” (On True Christianity, Part 1, §§47,48).

And precisely because unpunctual people get used to disorder in their lives, guided by wrongful principles that they accept as right, if they want to learn not to be late, they often cannot recognize their mistakes or easily and quickly change their habitual pattern of behavior. — This means this topic is part of my research.

Next, I will reflect on the causes and consequences of unpunctuality. This will be connected with the question of humility and pride in these people, their passions, and prudence. But for now, I will give just one definition of a humble Christian by Isaac the Syrian, related to lateness (which often also means hastiness, anxiety, fuss, etc.), stating that humility and haste with anxiety are incompatible: “A humble wise man never shows haste, impatience, confusion, or hot and rash thoughts, but remains at peace at all times.” (Ascetic Words, Word 48).

I will also note that in this topic I will demonstrate the most common everyday situations, passionate inclinations, and habits which sinners somehow justify, thinking that being late is not very bad—or they simply do not see passionate habits nor realize that these have already become vices for them. This is how the worldly mind views a person, judging its habitual thoughts, words, desires, emotions, and behavior, while the spiritual mind, examining all this, understands that this is the work of sin. And maybe someone will see themselves through sin with me, through a true and just self-assessment, and will come to repentance and desire to correct themselves, which will greatly help them on the path of saving their soul. Glory to the Lord, who enlightens me and all who desire to know themselves and change for the better!

8. On Why This Work Will Be Useful to Both Unpunctual and Punctual People

And finally, what I would like to say: at the beginning of writing this topic, I could not shake off my embarrassment that I was writing about such banal and well-known things, and that readers might ridicule me. But as I delved deeper into my research, I realized that not everyone can so thoroughly and comprehensively understand why they are late, or why unpunctuality is a vice full of passions, and therefore a sin, or why they cannot fix themselves and stop being late no matter how much they blame themselves and try.

I want to help those who are unpunctual and suffer from it—who worry and try to change but often fail and repeatedly run late—and also those who did not even realize they were unpunctual, despite often being late.

It is also clear that if a person is troubled by something, then they desire to rid themselves of a certain tendency; and if they are not troubled, then they do not desire change. So now I will speak to those who are troubled, because a Christian cannot consider themselves “special, allowed to be as they are,” not seeing their lateness as something wrong, or, knowing they are wrong but not wanting to change (and if a Christian realizes they sin or do wrong but still does not want to repent, they cannot really be called a “Christian,” and I do not want to speak about such people).

If this work is read by someone who simply does not care about their lateness, or who has accepted that they cannot be punctual and has made peace with it, or who justifies their lateness (for example, as one “psychologist” once said: “this often happens to people whose mothers had late pregnancies with them; they were born late, and so they are late for everything their whole life” — apparently, one can come up with such absurd excuses if it wasn’t a joke), then naturally, this topic will not interest such a person.

Or, for example, it will not interest someone who reacts to works on moral theology and psychology as one person did in an online comment on an article about lateness: “I hate those righteous, responsible perfectionists like the author (note: not all punctual people are perfectionists, and I know this well myself and among my close ones, so the author of this comment exaggerated). I don’t hate their lifestyle, but that they get upset and lecture and always act all smart.” Clearly, for such people who are indifferent to their vice, nothing will help because they consider themselves somehow special and above learning anything in life. Such a reaction is typical for these people, as the prophet Sirach said long ago (3rd–2nd century BC): “A sinner turns away from reproof and finds excuses according to his desire” (Ch. 32:19).

But I also believe that this topic will be interesting to those who are not late (just as I found the research interesting), because here I will present important spiritual formulas and laws of sin, questions of prudence and errors of logic, all shown through the simplest everyday examples, and maybe someone will see some of their own mistakes. Also, it will help understand what is happening with those who are late and will help not to judge them but deal with them humbly (which I have personally experienced).

And if among the readers there are those who have already known and seen all this as a unified system, then praise God for such wise people! And may they treat this work with leniency from the height of their wisdom…

So next, I will show some unpleasant truths about unpunctual people. But the truth cannot be hidden, no matter how much anyone wants to, and it certainly cannot be hidden at the Divine Judgment… And precisely so that our sins—those we never considered, which remain unwashed by repentance and for which we will bear punishment—do not get revealed at the Judgment, I compose these topics by God’s great mercy to us sinners!

Section 1: GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT UNPUNCTUALITY

Next, I will speak about concepts related to unpunctuality and the Christian attitude toward lateness.

A. ABOUT PUNCTUALITY AND ITS POSSIBLE WRONGNESS

At the very beginning, I will provide a couple of definitions of punctuality from internet sources, which also highlight certain characteristics of punctual people:

1. “Punctuality is the ability of people to keep time agreements. A punctual person is not only organized, self-disciplined, and responsible but also demonstrates respect for other people.”
2. “Punctuality (from Latin punctum — ‘point’) is a character trait implying extreme accuracy and systematic adherence to rules. In Russian colloquial speech (and many European languages), it usually describes a person’s ability to fulfill their obligations on time, for example, to appear at the scheduled meeting time.”
3. “The Russian concept of ‘punctuality’ primarily consists of synonymous notions such as neatness and extreme precision. … We assume that the concept of ‘punctuality’ in Russian and German cultures is connected with the concepts of ‘order,’ ‘discipline,’ ‘responsibility,’ ‘conscientiousness,’ and ‘time’…”

I will immediately say that correspondingly, an ‘unpunctual’ person is not ‘orderly,’ not ‘disciplined,’ not ‘responsible,’ and not ‘conscientious.’

It is also necessary to remind that, first, a person’s punctuality does not mean that they are very good, very smart, or morally upright in all respects. No. They are simply reliable in time agreements, in some job or duty; they have some responsibility toward the person they arranged with, and they can organize themselves well. Moreover, the difference from an unpunctual person is that their punctuality does not create inconvenience or provoke negative emotions in others, which unpunctual people often do. But in other situations, a punctual and responsible person may be angry, proud, selfish, not very intelligent, etc., just like all sinful people.

To be continued