Jonathots Daily Blog
(2008)
Life is usually so full that we wonder if things are going to work. Yes, those are the building blocks for wonderful.
Without the pressure and often intimidation of a challenging schedule, there is also an absence of the possibility of great benefit and blessing.
I ran headlong into this scenario yesterday. I arrived at a church where things were very busy. After all, there was a boy who needed to be baptized, church ladies who required thanks for all their work putting together delicacies, finance procured for the congregation, the “pray” needed “luded” and the “dox” needed a bit of “ology.”
It kind of squeezed me into a corner of limited time and I felt like an accordionist in a polka band who thought he was coming to perform for a bar mitzvah but ended up gigging at a circumcision–cut short.
Being a human, my first inclination was to be frustrated. Now understand–this was not directed at anyone else, it was just that my “full” didn’t seem to be heading towards “wonder.”
I took a deep breath–literally–then set into motion a process I have grown accustomed to using when my humanity wants to become unraveled in public.
1. Less is more, if less is given a chance. In other words, whatever time I use, I should use wisely and excellently.
2. Don’t be in a hurry when you haven’t got enough time to waste. The three crazy demons that infest humanity, causing us to look inept, are hurry, worry and flurry. (They tend to clump, by the way.)
3. Rejoicing is more attractive than lamenting. Being grateful for the opportunity to have any opening in life is much more powerful than complaining about the portion provided.
4. Focus on people, and God will show up. After all, nobody out in the audience knew what I expected, so any complaint coming from my lips would make me look absolutely ridiculous.
5. Nothing is personal unless you take it personally.
6. Do well. Sometimes the spotlight only hits you for a minute. Be ready.
7. And finally, don’t expect–but do be prepared.
I just exercised my human right to buy some time and do things better instead of freaking out and doing things poorly and making excuses about my lousy presentation.
You know what? It ended up being a great day, even amazing.
For the reason that God’s grace is sufficient for us is not just that He gives us favor because we’re His children–it’s because He gives us full schedules, where we wonder if things are going to work out.
And when they do, we discover the true definition of “wonderful.”
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