“I just can’t do it,” I thought to myself and must have voiced in so many words this evening, as I lifted a forkful of almond and cashew chicken to my lips. I was catching up with my linesister (one of my sorority sisters, for those scratching their heads reading this) at P.F. Chang’s over a dinner that came a week early.
We were supposed to be meeting for dinner next week. But for some reason, my brain—even after writing it down in my brand new planner—led me to believe tonight was supposed to be the night. And Leann, the bride-to-be, was kind enough to adjust her schedule to accomodate me. So, now here I was at what I announced must be rockbottom, ready to admit I just have too much on my plate.
I’m so committed to so much, I can’t even remember what date is what. If I’m coming or going. I’ve finally reached the point where I’m trying to do too much and am excelling at nothing.
So, it’s time to start prioritizing. The pastor at my church (New Life Providence. Come check us out) has started a series on dreamers. Last week, he had told us to seek out what it is that keeps us up at night—the thing that has us quoting Popeye saying, “I can’t stands it no more,” right before he scarfs down his spinach (this was the example he used complete with Popeye’s theme music. See, you should have been there)—and go after that. This had me thinking about a lot of the things I’ve been doing. What of them keep me up at night, feeling alive and excited? What could I do with out?
This week, he preached on how we and our dreams aren’t going to be liked by everyone. Joseph’s brothers buried him and his dreams. Mine have been buried in other folks’ busy work.
“So, how do I dig myself out?” I asked, as I shoveled another fork of brown rice and vegetables in my mouth.
Well, I’ve started identifying the things I can’t imagine doing without. And now I have to discard the things that are solely zapping my energy and time. But how?
In all my decades of life, I haven’t learned how to say no yet. I’m too much of a passive chicken.
So, maybe all those I need to say no to will read this post and get the message? You think?
Time to face the music. Stay tuned.
2 comments
Comments feed for this article
September 18, 2012 at 9:49 am
shanna mallon
This is something I’ve thought a lot about recently. Certain personalities (like mine and, I suspect, yours) need downtime in order to function properly. When we pack our schedules too full, we start to break down. It’s almost funny because society is always telling us how much there is to do and how we need to be doing it, but the reality is that any one of us cannot do everything and, the ones like me can only do some things.
So for a voice of encouragement, let me just say this: you are not alone in this and, from my experience, when you start removing the unnecessaries, everything starts to make more sense. Also, I love the passage in the Gospels where Martha is busy busy busy and Jesus says Mary has chosen the good part, the one thing that’s needful: sitting at His feet.
September 18, 2012 at 10:15 pm
oneshorething
Thanks for dropping in and commenting, Shanna! It’s comforting to know I’m not the only one and to be reminded that God has an answer for even modern-day’s busyness in His living word!