Crammed

I've been a Covey zealot for years. His stuff has helped me have hope that I can organize and live my life with integrity. Each moment carries with it the potential to be leveraged as an asset on my balance sheet of what's most important. This high-yield hope energizes me, feeding my Strength-finder profiles of Strategist and Maximizer. It drives me to work smarter and harder, imagining that I could be the 10-talent hero in the parable (Matt 25:28). INNERMOST THOUGHT TRANSPARENCY: Maybe I could be the one to please the Master so well that I help cover for those who squander their opportunities.

But I have a natural drift toward the production side of life. The DOING micro-lobbyists within me are far too aggressive, invading my soul constantly. Every once in a while I actually think about the pleas for help smuggled out by the besieged, peace-loving, internal forces who insist that I need to be more and do less. Then--as if it were hand delivered by someone bent on my destruction--an irresistible opportunity comes along. BAM! Let's do it!!

It feels like I got crammed by life this week. Some fabulous Rahn family highlights took place with my daughter getting engaged and my son and his bride-to-be making a first time home purchase. Each of these (and other events) had an unanticipated impact on my scheduled activities. Drop everything else for what's most important, right?

A month ago it looked like I was in great shape to prepare well for being away all next week and get my taxes done. That's probably why a month ago I agreed to squeeze in a high impact timely ministry audit, though I knew it was probably 40 hours of work. And by the way, that big project deadline I failed to meet by April 1? It also got carried over into this week, screaming URGENT all the way.

Decisions I made a month ago ensured that last week would be crammed. Life piled on. Life will do that. When will I learn? Thanks for not flunking me, Jesus.

Matt. 11:28-30
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”