If You Want To Make an Easy Job Seem Hard, Just Keep Putting Off Doing It



When Beth's boss asked her to take on an extra project, Beth saw the opportunity to prove she could handle greater responsibility.  She immediately began to think how she might approach the task and her enthusiasm ran high.  But when the time came to start the project, Beth found herself telling her boss she was too busy to do the job justice.  The project was given to someone else, who earned a promotion for completing it successfully.  Beth didn't receive any new opportunities and eventually took a position with another firm.

What had kept Beth from doing the project?  Simple procrastination.  She put off getting started on the project until she was paralyzed with fear--fear that she might not be able to do the job or that her performance would not meet her boss' expectation.  In the end, Beth didn't move ahead and thus reinforced her fears with a bigger sense of insecurity about her own ability.

If you find yourself procrastinating, ask God to show you how to overcome your fear, then do what He says.  He wants you to succeed and live a fulfilled life, but you must step out in faith for Him to bless you.

How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?

Joshua 18:3

The Greatest Achievements Are Those That Benefit Others

Several years ago the soap opera All My Children called for high-society philanthropist Brooke English to move into a homeless shelter to better understand their plight.  Julia Barr, who played Brooke, felt prompted by the part to take some real-life action of her own.  She became a participant in First Step, a New York City job-readiness program for homeless and formerly homeless women.  The eight-week session included one-on-one mentoring, resume advice, access to job internships, interview clothing and pep talks from people such as herself.

Says Julia, "I know how it feels to lack motivation and self-esteem.  I tend to procrastinate; I'm rarely on time; I'm rather bossy; I'm very stubborn--we all have things that hold us back and so I share mine."

Julia is not only giving her time but also her money.  When her maternal grandmother, Myrtle, died at the age of 104, she left Julia "a nice amount of money."  It was all donated to First Step.

Julia Barr has one Emmy award and six nominations, but those in First Step will remember her for the care she gave to them.

To be the greatest, be a servant.

Matthew 23:11



Will This Be Important Five Years From Now?



I haven't been here much this week, because I've been doing double duty at my other job.  I'm not sure why it is, but I've always been the kind of person that sees something that needs to be done and instead of waiting for someone to tell me, I just jump right in and start.  I work at a church, part time, and this church is finishing up a building project; they've added more classrooms and re-purposed some of the old areas.  Saturday is supposed to be cleaning day for all members to come together and rid the church building of the dirt and concrete dust that is everywhere.  Just walking through the building leaves me craving a shower, it's so dirty. 

I discovered in staff meeting on Tuesday morning that I will be the only staff person there on Saturday...me, the newest member!  My immediate response was to think, "Well, I know nothing about anything so I'll show up and wait for a long-time church member to tell me what to do."  Now, if you know me at all, you know that this really is not my personality.  I don't generally sit and wait to be told what needs to be done, so I asked a member of the building committee who happens to be the church secretary (and we all know that they know EVERYTHING) to walk me through the intended purposes of the space and what she believed should be done.  And then I dug in!

I have spent this week up to my....well, all of me....in every nook and cranny of that church.  I've dug through every box, sorting and cleaning.  I've visited with church members about getting shelves hung and how to go about getting more shelves.  I've asked members to join me on various days this week to come in ahead of Saturday to get some things done so that on Saturday morning we can actually do the cleaning and setting up that was intended. 

The thing that I've had to keep reminding myself of, as it gets overwhelming each day (and I really mean several times each day) is this:  Is this going to be important five years from now?  Or even one year from now?  Sometimes we get so caught up in the trivial details that we lose sight of the big picture.  My job at the church is to help coordinate all the programs and therefore, the people, of the church and their activities.  To do that effectively, I wanted to know what resources we have and how it has all fit together so far.  This process of sorting and cleaning has made it possible for me to know what we have and to get to know more new friends as we work together. 

One member has been a little concerned that things will not be precisely where she would like them and that is when my mantra came back to me...Is this going to be important in one year...or five years?  Will I even remember this in that time frame? 

Isn't it funny how easy it is to get caught up in the most minute of details and forget to see what is really important?  I think that we tend to do this because the little details are easier to take care of, to make decisions about.  The big picture requires us to think it through and to spend a little time.  You know, we all start out with the best of intentions... "today I'm going to do.....," but then some little thing happens and "I'll just take care of this and then...."  But then something else comes up and we get to the end of the day and we haven't done what we set out to do.  OK.  We'll do it tomorrow and the same thing happens.  My friend says that she has a PhD in procrastination.  That's what this is; putting off what needs to be done.

There is a room in the church where all the consumable supplies are stacked right now.  I have cringed each time I've walked past that room, not knowing even where to start.  Well, I really know.  I just need to pick a place and begin.  I've used all kinds of excuses all week long to put it off.  Five years from now will I remember this?  (I might. I might still be there sorting and cleaning!)   Probably not, but what about the really big things in life that you're putting off?  What is it that you need to address TODAY that you will remember five years from now. 

Pick a place, it really doesn't matter, just pick a place and start.  Take baby steps, if you have to, but start.  Right now!  As Nike says, 'Just Do It.'  You'll feel so much better when you get it started and imagine how you'll feel when you get it done! 

I send you nothing but blessings today to go forth and BEGIN!

Again and again, the impossible problem is solved

when we see that the problem is only a tough

decision waiting to be made.

--Robert H. Schuller