We’ve heard it before, but my time window is short and I don’t have time a lot of time to research this morning, rather, I’m just thinking about Needful Things.
It’s not about Needs vs Wants, but more about the concept of knowing what’s Needful in my life so I can be productive, satisfied, focused, and in alignment with who I’m meant to be, doing what I’m designed to do, and keeping my “focus, focus, focus!”
How do you do this?
Glad you asked. It’s different for every person! When you’ve analyzed your options, asked the important questions (If this, then that? or What/If/Now what?), then it’s really up to you to make the choice of how you will move onward with your life.
I’m a proponent of making lists, dividing out the pro’s and con’s, and then pushing onward with my mind made up. Periodically, I check back in with my lists, the assumptions that were made, and determine that my path is still in line with my planning, or not. Course corrections are occasionally needful!
Is what I’m doing still making sense!
Literally, this means I must be organized enough to know where that list might be stored! Too often it is in a notebook filed away, or on that 3×5 card stacked next to the computer with all my other lists… sometimes it’s actually on my digital device organized the way I like to do when I’m mobile.
Focus
On an early morning, headed on an early errand, I paused for a steaming cup of black coffee and some busy thinking and planning time. My notebook is ready to refer to, my pen is in my hand, the calendar is available, and my mobile devices are fired up! Ready to check-in, adjust and make my plans set like a stone for the day!
Now. What’s needful this morning? Week? Month?
Focus.
Prayer. Scripture. Devotion.
Reviewing. Thinking. Planning.
Documenting. Calendar review.
Schedule. Contacts!
Then doing.
I’ve learned that in the early morning, even in a bustling and noisy environ with a busy street scene just a few feet away, I can be totally focused, or easily distracted.
When in the belly of the World Trade Towers several decades ago, I would sit like this at a perch overlooking the escalators where workers were exiting the subway. A train would pull in, someone would stir the nest, and suddenly the scurry of workers come out of the ground like a swarm of ants (not bee’s!), each headed to a destination where they will occupy the next number of hours.
Whether watching it live or remembering the event, this has always helped bring my mind into focus to accomplish the day’s task just as I imagined these scurrying folk would do in just a few minutes.
Knowing What’s Important
But what’s needful? Necessary? Or wishful?
When learning to fly my instructor provided me with a checklist of what to do when preparing the plane. I followed it every time. Religiously! Why? I wanted to make sure that everything that he said was important to note had been duly reviewed and prepared/repaired as needed. I memorized the checklist so I could move speedily, and even added things to meet my personal quirks for making sure all was okay.
We even checked the fuel level in each tank with a measuring rod even though there was a fuel indicator on the dash, and duly recorded the levels on paper. Why? Sometimes it’s best to know what reality is from two different sources!
Here’s my thought today.
I remember the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus had come to visit. Martha was busy scurrying about with her tasks and noticed Mary was simply sitting at the feet of Jesus, soaking it up. Martha complained.
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful:
and Mary hath chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
(Luke 10:41-42)
Martha chose her needful tasks, and if you keep your focus on the service she was providing, it was very important! Necessary. Mary’s choice was different. Think about it. Today we may be perched on the edge of our comfortable chairs, but Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus in what would have shown him she was ready to receive! Perhaps Mary’s needs were different that morning and she gave herself to that which was needful for her.
We all have choices to make! What do you need right now?
It was Jesus who taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “Seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God….” (Matthew 6:33)
What’s your First duty today?
Application
I will always love what the Apostle Paul said to the church in Philippians, and this is still my favorite portion of scripture.
Let your moderation be known unto all men.
The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things.
Those things,
which ye have both learned, and received,
and heard, and seen in me, do:
and the God of peace shall be with you.
(Philippians 4:5-9)
If you’ve read my blog for a while, you know about my view of this scripture. Thimk’ing and Doing. (Go ahead! Click on that link and read my view!) It’s that challenge of focusing on the Needful Things more than those wasteful moments spent on the worries or distractions. It’s about spending some quality time Thimk’ing it through, and then getting about the business of Doing what needs to be done!
Daydreams will happen, pauses for rest will be necessary, distractions will be many, but the Win at the end of your day will be the reward!. You will have accomplished what you set out to do.
Now. Get busy and do what is Needful!