Just Do One Thing. And Then Do Another.
Do you ever feel overwhelmed?
I often say that I make my residence on the boarderlands between whelmed and over-whelmed. I like to live life fully. Being whelmed, or full, is satisfying and life-giving to me. But overwhelmed? Not so much.
I am beginning to note a pattern in my life. When I feel overwhelmed, I only see the big looming cloud of activities on my not yet written down "to do" list. Just the thought of all the things I need to do or think about or plan - it all stops me in my tracks. So here is what I'm learning: Just do one thing. For me, that one thing often is to write my list down. Then I do the next thing. I choose a task and do that. Then I keep going.
The mission of our church is to make Jesus known among us, around us, and beyond us. This is a big task. There are days when each of us may feel unqualified, unprepared, or even overwhelmed by the call to be on this mission. So, on those days, maybe its today - just do one thing. In prayer, speak with God about how to break the mission down into a list.
My list, for example, might include praying for my neighbours to have soft hearts toward Jesus. It might include hosting a games night with some friends from my yoga class. It might be inviting my brother-in-law to Easter Sunday's service at Oak Bay Highschool. It might include serving on a team for Sunday morning services. It may be that I choose to financially support an Internation Worker through the Global Advance Fund. All of these together could quickly feel overwhelming - but taken one at a time, being on mission in this way can breathe life and energy into all of us!
Friends - we are invited to make Jesus known among us, around us, beyond us. Just do one thing. And then do another. And then keep going!
"but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Phil 3:13-14