There are too many items on my to-do list today. I am guessing there may be too many on yours. Not only are there too many items to complete, but also when I review this list, it seems that the urgent stuff might crowd out the important stuff. Like Annie Dillard says, “How we spend our days, of course, is how we spend our lives.”
Here is my to-do list today:
- Write a message for Sunday
- Write an article for the newsletter
- Put together a church-wide survey
- Figure out the problem with the info@plattparkchurch.org email address
- Invite folks to participate in the pre-marital class
- Line up a videographer
- Meal plan and grocery shop for the week
- Re-schedule the school tour
- Exercise
- Drink 60 oz of water
Pretty much every day I create a to-do list like this. Once I create my list, I scan it and prioritize my “top 3” tasks for that day. I like my system; it’s serving me well. But even if I do all these things and do them well, I could miss out on walking in faith, hope and love. God doesn’t call us to be efficiency machines; he invites us to be his children. Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Martha is busy with so many things, but Jesus says, “Mary has chosen the better and it shall not be taken from her.” Mary chose to worship at Jesus feet.
The most important thing is to keep the main thing the main thing! Scripture teaches that the main thing is to love God, and love people.
So here are 3 things I’m going to write into my to-do list today:
- Spend time with Jesus walking the alleys of Platt Park
- Tickle the kids and kiss Tim
- Say hello to the strangers I see throughout the day
I encourage you to include these 3 items on your to-do list today (Write them down to hold yourself accountable):
1. One way you can go outside and pray.
2. One way you can notice the people in your life and show them love.
3. One way you can spread kindness to a stranger.
You can write down anything you’d like, and it can be new and creative each day. What surprising, quirky, new or faith-filled item could you check off your list today?
Susie Grade 