The year is rapidly coming to a close.
Closing year end tasks are important, almost as much as the tasks of beginning. Now is the time to crowd in those things you said you would have done, and set the stage for the focus of the next year.
There is no time for time lost.
As I write my last post for this year my mind ranges through the events of these past 12 months. Rippling like a wave, each individual thought gently bumps into another memory, and eventually those combined memories swell and merge into that general history of the recent past.
Over the next few days I will analyze my productivity. This will be a thinking time with many notes to back up my memory as I prepare for the next year. Where were the holes, missed opportunities? What could I do better for the next year? Which tasks bring joy, pain? Who do I need to spend time with? Where is my focus? What things can I let loose of, or reassign to another? Who made a mess of things and how do I prevent this from happening again? Have I forgiven everyone their trespasses? Have they forgiven me?
This is a time that I wish for a duplicated version of myself to help spread the load!
It is during this time that I finalize my focus for the next year, including the several training platforms I am working with in order to improve my writing and book preparation.
My tasks are never ending. They keep piling up and whittling away at a constant speed, it seems – fast. The only rest that happens are the times I force myself to slow down. Even then it’s difficult to not constantly think about the duties that are awaiting when I pick up speed again.
Some want to go out with a bang and cheer in the new. I simply want to sleep in peace from old to new and awake to a seemingly fresh new world with a great future and recharged focus.
So, I pray and meditate each morning, gleaning that morsel from scripture and the thinkers reading list, and file away for the future need. Almost like that ant mentioned only a single time in scripture.
Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,
Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler,
Provides her supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.
(Proverbs 6:6-8 NKJV)
For the remaining few days, Lord, give me clarity of vision, focus of mind, and the energy to persevere each day until my eyes close in sleep.
To you, reader, may your ending year be productive and peaceful. May your next year be a fountain of hope and victory. Blessings to each of you.
Michael Gurley
Husband, father, son, sibling, pastor, teacher, student
Everything begins with a very simple thought
and grows into a magnificent premise
and returns to a very simple thought…