A Recipe for Miscommunication

Little in life can be as exciting as miscommunication. All it takes is one missed appointment or one innocent comment that spirals into a massive argument, and all of the sudden life gets interesting. In case your life lacks the excitement you desire, I propose this recipe for miscommunication:

Don't address a problem quickly. Whenever you are given an important communication: a) don't write it down, b) don't ask for clarification, and c) don't act on it quickly. Haste makes waste.  Put it off until the last possible moment--trust me it gets real exciting.

When you think there has been a misunderstanding on your part or the part of another, don't speak up. Speaking up will only cause conflict. But not as much conflict as staying silent. Conflict equals excitement. I bet you heart is just racing think about it.

When you speak, aim for brevity not clarity. The people to whom you are speaking won't care if they can't understand what you are talking about, so long as you say it quickly. Also, don't worry about having a point. They're usually unnecessary. Random thoughts interjected into conversations make it more interesting. Squirrel. See what I did there.

Talk more than you listen. This may seem contradictory to the last point, but really only reinforces it. Not listening to others forces them to learn how to speak more briefly. Plus, they don't have a point either, so why worry about the details. You can multitask while they are talking--check your email, make a grocery list, remind yourself to contact that kid from third grade you hadn't thought about in twenty-something years, oh what was his name? Now, you have a least two tasks finished.

The last piece of this recipe is indecision. Just of pinch of indecision can help you solidify the rest of these rules. What should I do? What should I do? Why make up your mind right now, when putting it off will be more exciting later?

Your moments away from some really exciting miscommunications. Arguments! Missed deadlines! Stress! Pressure! Confusion! Here we come. 

Boasting About Tomorrow

"Don't boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day might bring" (Prov. 27:11, HCSB).

This proverb is urging us not to praise our tomorrows.  Although little orphan Annie might bet her bottom dollar, there is no guarantee that the sun will come up tomorrow, and even if it does there is no guarantee we will be alive to see it. 

Some people boast in their tomorrow by laying out elaborate plans. They fill their calendar with projects, goals, to do lists, and deadlines. When questioned, they can layout the next 15 years for the interviewer. They have it all figured out. They believe themselves to be the masters of their own destiny.

Other people boast in their tomorrow by putting everything off until later. Their motto is, "Never do today what can be put off until tomorrow." They muse, "Some day, some day." But someday never comes, because tomorrow is always on the horizon. They also believe they are the masters of their destiny, at least as soon as they can get to it.

Most of us assume tomorrow. We think and plan as if tomorrow is just around the corner. But none of us are promised tomorrow. As James says,

Come now, you who say, "'Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit."  Your don't even know what tomorrow will bring--what your life will be!  For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance.  All such boasting is evil (James 4:13-16, HCSB).

Planning has a place, but planning that does not give attention to seeking God's will is wasted.  Mapping our our future, without giving priority to God is destined to fail. Yes, it might succeed for a time, but judgment delayed is not judgment denied. We will all stand before God and give an account for our stewardship of time. The reward will not go to those with the best plans, but to those who have planned best.  That is, those who want to see their plans honored by God had better make his plans their own.

Some may read this and assume that there is no reason to plan at all, but that assumption misses the mark. James doesn't say all planning is evil, he says planning that leaves God out of the mix is boasting, and that boasting is evil. Seek God, then make your plans. In what ways does God what to grow you? In what ways has God blessed you? What are you talents and interests? What does God's Word say about the path you are taking? 

Commit your way to the Lord, and he will establish the plans of your heart. He will guide you. Commit to the plans he gives you.  Realize that their is a reason that you can only see so far down the road.  Keep the big picture in mind, as you face the day before you.  No matter how you try, you can't live twenty years in the span of a day.  As Jesus said, "Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matt. 6:34, HCSB).

Do Something for God

While reading Isaac Watt's, A Guide to Prayer, I came across this quote:

"I am at last convinced that it is better for me to do something for God, though it be imperfect, than to be guilty of perpetual delays in hopes of better pleasing myself" (pg. 5).

He was speaking about his book.  He felt that it need more polishing, but realized that he might never get around to it. As I read the quote, I thought of all the things I have put off finishing, because I couldn't make them perfect.

I wonder how many people wrestle with this kind of thinking. I tempted to say that most, if not all, the procrastinators I know fall into this category. Most of them are gifted, creative people, but they are also critical of their own work. Many of them are never satisfied with their own work, no matter what anyone else says.

How much different would our lives be, if we could grasp the full meaning of Watt's words. It is better to do something that is imperfect, than to do nothing while waiting for perfection. Maybe there is something you have been putting off for a while, because you thought you couldn't do it good enough. Maybe you should take the plunge and do it.

It is time to stop waiting for the right time, and the right words. In faith, seize the moment and say it in the best way you know how. Don't put it off in hopes of pleasing yourself, because your delays are displeasing to God. Take the risk, and you might just find that others will benefit from your work.

Laziness

I often struggle with procrastination.  I know that I have written about it more than once, but it is a persistent problem.  I'm a relatively sure that I have vowed, on more than one occasion, to battle this debilitating fiend. Yet, I find that I easily slip right back into the same old habits.

Why do today, what can be done tomorrow?  At least, that is how the logic flows.  Why allow yourself to be inconvenienced unnecessarily when there is plenty of time to get to it.  I'm not even sure when or where I picked up that line of thinking.  Maybe it is just the way of the sinful human heart.  Maybe sloth is just the way (one of many) that sin affects my heart.

I have known for awhile that laziness is a weakness.  That knowledge has not produced the solution that I had hoped would be forthcoming.  The only solution for laziness is daily doses of strenuous labor (mental or physical), administered under the watchful eyes of those who will hold you accountable.  The process is further aided by scheduling and organizing.

Recently, I have turned my mind to the question: What one thing could I do to change my life for the better?  The usual suspects made their appearance.  I considered losing weight, praying more, reading more, etc.  But each suggested "fix" made me wonder if there was something more going on.  As I looked at problem area in my life, I realized that the root of most of my problems was laziness.

For one reason or another, I have allowed myself to become consumed by laziness.  It affects every area of my life: my health, my finances, my relationships, my studying, my job, my friendships.  It affects everything.

Sloth is a dragon that must be slain in my life.  Laziness is holding me hostage in clutches, keeping me from enjoying the freedom that is mine in Christ.  I am working on a plan that will liberate me from the clutches of laziness--hopefully forever.  I'm pulling together resources to help others who might be in the same boat as me. 

I would love the hear your ideas.  How do you combat laziness in your life?  What resources have motivated you to overcome laziness?  How have you kept from slipping back into laziness?  I'll be looking forward to your responses.

Developing New Tastes

There are many things in the world that are unpleasant to do.  There may be several things within your own life that you don't enjoy doing.  Then tendency for many people is to put off unpleasant things, and to fill their time with things they enjoy.  Even good things, like reading or talking to a friend, can be used as a means of avoidance.

Sometimes, we might need to have a heart-to-heart talk with someone close to us, but find it easier to sit in the same room watching t.v.  Feelings, especially painful ones, are not pleasant to deal with.  This kind of "putting off" has a name, procrastination.

One of the best ways to deal with procrastination is to develop new tastes.  If you don't like doing something, like taking out the garbage, then you need to develop the habit of doing it.  Start your day by tackling at least one thing you don't enjoy.  In the case of the garbage, get into the habit of gathering it every day and taking it outside to the trash bin.  Never give yourself "the day off."  Stick with it until your day feels weird if you have to miss it.

Learn to overcome your knee-jerk reaction to unpleasantness, and you might find your day's more productive and your life less cluttered.  Sure, developing these habits might mean you miss a day or two of playing games on Facebook.  However, it may also mean that you find more time in your life to make lasting memories.

How do you deal with unpleasant tasks?  Are you a procrastinator?  Are you a recovering procrastinator with some great tips you can share?   I would love to hear some suggestions.

Some Thoughts on Procrastination

I hate being a procrastinator.  There is too much to accomplish within the limited amount of time we are given on earth to keep putting things off.  I am looking at an ever-growing stack of "to read" books, there are blog posts to write, sermons and lessons to prepare, classes to plan, a family that needs attention, and on and on the list goes.  Yet, in the midst of all this activity I find myself resistant to careful planning and execution.

I just keep putting stuff off.  I'll read that book next week.  I'll return that call tomorrow.  I'll check on them in the morning.  Not right now dear, Daddy's busy.  There always seems to be something more urgent, something undone, or something that I would rather not do.  I guess my procrastination is rooted in laziness, immaturity, irresponsibility, self-indulgence, and a lack of skill in time management.

Laziness, or sloth, is a spiritual condition with physical symptoms.  Mankind was created to work, to be creative, and to be productive.  When we fail to acknowledge the goodness of work and its necessity, we are prone to avoid toiling away with all our might.  We need to recognize laziness as sin, confess and turn away from it, and seek to become diligent.

Irresponsibility is often connected with laziness.  Sometimes, we excuse our laziness with the expression, "that's not my job," or "that isn't in my job description."  Responsible people take initiative.  They don't wait see how others will respond, they do what has to be done.  At some point, we have to learn to stand on our own two feet and meet our obligations.  I'm not suggesting that we never seek help, but we should live off of others like parasites.  We have to learn what our responsibilities are, and with the Lord's help, meet them head on.

Immaturity is often at the root of both irresponsibility and laziness.  We should all be seeking to grow in maturity.  Part of that growth is to understand our place in this world and to take the appropriate action based on that knowledge.  Ultimately, we have to grow up.

Procrastination is often also accompanied by self-indulgence.  We tend to put off the things that we find unpleasant.  For this reason, many people with a toothache put off going to the dentist.  Others put off going the gym, because they find exercise to be unpleasant. We have to stop making provision for our flesh-it's weak, and doesn't want the things of God.

Finally, one tends to gain skill with time management as they mature, take responsibility, become diligent, and stop giving into every desire.  Sure, we can learn something from those who are task oriented, and who have dedicated their lives to getting things done.  But apart from growing up and getting to it, there is very little they can do to motivate us.

Pray for me that I will overcome procrastination.  I'll pray that you, if you are a procrastinator, will overcome it as well.  I hope you don't put it off too long.  You never know what you might accomplish.

Last Minute

Have you ever waited until the last minute? I think there have been times when most of have waited until the last minute to do something. Maybe, it was an unpleasant task we really didn't want to complete. Maybe, the task overwhelmed us with its size. Sometimes, it is just shear laziness on our parts.

Many of us live our lives under the assumption that there isn't a dead line. We often think there is always tomorrow. We put off the things we deem less important or less urgent. We rationalize our decisions in such a way that we believe that are actually doing our duty, when, in fact, we are neglecting our God given duty.

The dogged pursuit of a paycheck is often fear masquerading familial responsibility. We have to eat, don't we. However, the Lord promises us that if we seek his righteousness and kingdom, then we will have what we need. But do we believe that promise? Does the Father truly love us more than the sparrow? Will he really provide? I am not saying that it is wrong to work hard. I believe that hard work is a Christian virtue, however workaholism is not. We need to review our motives. Are we working for the glory of God? Or our we driven by our own covetousness?

Many people plan on serving the Lord or growing in Christ, after they have all their ducks in a row. Many think: let me get married, let me get a good job, let me get a house, let me raise my kids, let me retire and then I can serve the Lord. The keep putting it off to the last minute. Thus, they allow the numerous opportunities meant to shape them in holiness and to strengthen their faith pass by without so much as lifting a finger. There is always tomorrow we think.

It's that kind of thinking that James seeks to confront. He warns his readers that such an attitude smacks of arrogance, because human life is "mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes" (James 4:14, see 4:13-17). We need to make the most of every moment. There is no time to wait until the last minute, because this minute may be it. For this reason, the authors of the Scriptures, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, compel us time and again to put of the deeds of the flesh and to put on Christ. There is no time like the present, for it is in the present that we must act.

Procrastination

Do you ever procrastinate when you have a task to do that you find unpleasant? Maybe it is the dishes, or taking out the trash, or finishing a paper, or filing you taxes, or any number of other things. Do you find that after putting things off you still have to do it? That unpleasant task waits to be completed. Procrastination is such an easy habit to fall into. It is a dangerous one, too. Procrastination allows us to waste our precious time.

There is an old philosophy that says do the hard stuff first. Get the things you find to be unpleasant done quickly and you will find yourself with more time. I am trying to overcome procrastination myself. It isn't an easy thing to do, but with the Lord's help I am confident he will enable me to overcome.

Another old saying states, "Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today." Again there is wisdom in these words. We should be quick to do things that need to be done, in order to make the most of our time. It also leaves us time to do the things we want to do. In the end, it leaves freer to accomplish more.