I want to do it all.
When I took my present position on staff in my church I immediately saw a myriad of things that needed attending to. Some projects, like cleaning out the junk collected under the stairs leading to the fire escape, had been waiting to be done by someone for a long time. Somehow when we plan church building projects no one thinks of appropriate storage places. The task wasn't on my job description, but as a member of the church community (and having had some experience with frowning fire department inspectors) I was concerned. So I went to work.
There were other tasks that caught my eye and they got added to the list.
I also work at writing, both as a staff member with the communications department of my mission, and as a personal interest. Like the church position, the writing part of life also gets cluttered with good things that need doing.
And I really want to do it all.
However, even though the tasks are all good ones needing to be done, I simply can't do them all. I may be smart, but I'm not that smart. I may be fast, but I'm not that fast. When I do the good things, I often find I don't have time to do the best things and the day ends without having accomplished what really needed to be done.
It's a question of discovering priorities. I recently read Andy Stanley's The Principle of the Path. The basic premise is that the paths we choose, good as they may be, might not get us where we want to go, or where God has designed us to be most glorifying to him or where we can be the most fulfilled. As much as I want to do it all, I also want to do all that is the God's best for me. I please him most when I am within the boundaries of his perfect will.
Perhaps each day needs to begin with a prayer about priorities: Lord, what's on your agenda for me today? Just as I ask you to deliver me from evil, deliver me from good things that aren't the best things. Keep my eyes on your path and off of the bunny trails that pop up each day. And when the good becomes the best help me to do even those tasks for your glory. Amen.
Encouraging InScribe members to share their writings with each other and the world
Lynda, you hit the nail on the head for me! In fact the other day, I jotted down the phrase 'Good is not good enough -- we need a God-word'.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to scout up that book you mention by Andy Stanley. Thanks for the tip.
Happy Day...............
Hmmm, I can identify with this too. I often feel like there's not enough time to do everything that I want to do. And then I have to remind myself, as you do here, that maybe not everything is necessary... thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe Principle of the Path is an excellent book. Got me thinking about a lot of things in my life that need to be reexamined so that I get where I really want to go.
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