Daily To Do Lists...

                Retired United Methodist Bishop Robert Spain once led a workshop I attended regarding time management.  One of the greatest tools he gave us was to make a to-do list each day.  He said that the creating of the list was essential  to the success of our accomplishments.  The more organized we are, the more effective we can be with our time, and therefore the more effective we can be in our ministry.  The To-Do list was an organizational tool that allowed us to be flexible, but also gives us a sense of accomplishment.  Nothing is more satisfying than to look at a list of tasks at the end of the day that have all been crossed off.  IT was a great tool, to do lists.  But greater still was when he said we should create it. 

                He shared that to try to create the list in the morning first thing is helpful, but not necessarily practical.  Typically, we will spend more time working on the list than actually accomplishing the tasks listed.  Trying to remember everything that we had been thinking of throughout the night before and the morning commute in to the office can be frustrating, and quite often interrupt the flow of accomplishing the very objectives we are setting about to do.  Instead, he said, try to write your list of things that need to be done as the last thing you do before you call it a day.  That way, your mind is still freshly examining all the items from that day’s list that did not get accomplished, which you can transfer over to the next day’s list.  Logical, it seemed at the time.  What I didn’t get to today, I will set about as the task to get to first thing tomorrow.

                Unless you procrastinate.  Then you are in for some real trouble.  My friends along the Rio Grande used to have a saying, “Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after.”  Before long, your list becomes the one accomplishment that you may never finish.  Lists can be helpful, until they become the only means by which you can accomplish anything – and then the list can become idolized.  “I’m sorry, I cannot help you with your problems today – you are simply not on my list.”

                I remember reading somewhere (although I must admit that I cannot re-locate the exact reference now) that  Martin Luther once quipped, “I have much to do today, so I shall spend extra time in prayer this morning.”  What he meant was that in order for him to have his mind and heart totally focused on the ministry that God had set before him for that day, he had better be spending extra time getting himself right with God before he ever started. 

Getting right with God is essential.  How can we be faithful in the holy tasks we are given – being Christ’s presence in a very hurting world – without spending time with the very Christ who came to save this hurting world?  If we are not in the mind of Christ, we can never hope to be effective in being Christ’s body for those who are struggling with so many of life’s profound issues.  Taking that time to get ourselves right before God – confession, prayer, devotional reading of the Scriptures, and of course listening for God’s word and guidance through the Holy Spirit – can make the difference between just being in the neighborhood and being the Body of Christ incarnate for someone who is truly in need.   “I have much to do today, so I shall spend extra time in prayer this morning.”

                Ouch.  How many times have I started my day without so much as saying, “Good morning, Lord!”  (Better put that down on the list as Number 1.)

             See you in church!

 

Grace and peace,

Brad