I learned a long time ago that I tend to carry heavier loads than I should. It’s easy to pick up a new task, load up a new system, and try to make forward progress. What I’ve equally learned, the more I handle, the less productive I am. Could it be the scenario of piling it on is not a valuable way of looking at life? Somewhere I thought I could do it all!
Let’s think this through.
Forty tasks require an hour each, but 40 hours divided through 40 tasks need the time to pick it up, process, and set it down. You know, breaks between the loads, c-o-f-f-e-e being a crucial filler moment, stretch out the time between the tasks. Forty hours now stretches out to easily 50 or more hours. Then rest breaks, food, and other necessities. Before long, 40 tasks become two weeks’ worth of work!
Don’t even think about priorities!
They are not sequentially processed like an assembly line. Like a Fruit Salad Turnover (remember that game?), they rise to the surface of focus a dozen times during the day. It isn’t easy to handle multiple tasks at the same time! Too many irons in the fire create poor results. A juggler cannot manage an infinite number of objects. Something will slip, and the failure will be spectacular and tragic at the same time.
Distraction produces imperfections. Injuries and struggles will be the byproduct—feelings of uselessness.
As I Age
Yes. The older I get, the more foolish I see my previous life thinking I could handle it all. And do so without help or assistance. Delegation is not easy for me unless I pay you to handle a task. In the church, volunteers are primarily used, and sometimes the results are spotty. If anyone is going to have a poor performance, Let It Be Me and Not Thee! At least that’s what my psyche says. If anyone fails, it might as well be me and let it be my responsibility to fix and repair.
Then I thought about Jesus. He chooses 12 disciples. They were his students, learning what He taught, handling the mundane and mind-numbing tasks of managing the crowds, finding a place to sleep, and making sure everyone got enough to eat. Yet, He called them to be fishers of men, and they answered the call!
In just 3-1/2 years, they have graduated to become various leaders in their own rights. We only track several of them through the years and note their successes, failures, and finally martyrdom. Equally, we find the Lord is not through choosing new disciples. I’m thinking of Paul, who, in his own right, produced many disciples to carry his calling forward.
Jesus had his Judas. Paul had his Demas.
Remember, all the disciples fled from Jesus when he was arrested, and stood far from the cross as he died! They hid while he was in the tomb, and went fishing after he arose (John 21:3). They were disorganized, flighty, and a worrisome lot. Fearful and concerned they would be arrested. Until Pentecost. Then they became Spirit-filled and ready to challenge the Devil himself! Death nor Hell will stand up against the Church.
What Do We Do Now?
Of course, I cannot travel backward in time and re-do my younger life. All I can do is to adapt to the times we are living in and find more people to do more of the tasks required in life.
This is harder than you may think!
I know preachers who allow others to drive while they pray, think, study, relax, or even sleep. In between preaching assignments they are marshaling their strength for the next service. One of my most difficult things is to let someone else drive! Ask my bride!
This first week of the New Year (2022), I’ve been using several hashtags on purpose. They give me pause to consider where I am and focus me to share the lessons I’ve learned through the years.
#TwentyTwentyTwo —- #LessonsLearned
The reality is that I’m sitting at 67 trips around the sun, and there are many lessons I’ve learned. It’s time to share, and then do what I’m thinking about. Maybe you feel the same way. You could’ve, should’ve done things differently. But you didn’t. Maybe we should start a “Commiserate But Improve” group!
Or, we can start acting with the Holy Spirit we have and follow the examples of those before us.
Thimk and Do (Click to Read my thought on Thimk!)
One of your best. I read the follow up on Thinking. Meditate is good but I Ponder a lot. I’ve been told that I should always pray out loud. Well, I don’t. But I do pray a lot in my head. Almost all day. I think of someone and shoot up an Arrow Prayer for them. God knows my every thought. He hears all these silent prayers. I truly believe this.
❤️ Judy
I pray mostly in a silent mode so the Devil Doesn’t Hear! Unless I’m praying with others, and then I join them in vocal prayers so we all hear one another. Arrow Prayers and Breath Prayers – We both understand them quite well!
Thanks for reading and sharing!