Until I come, devote yourself to the
public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. (I
Timothy 4:13)
“What did
I come in here for?”
Oh, it was probably to tell you the story of the farmer who headed to the barn to milk the cows. On the way, he noticed that someone had left some tools on the ground. Not wanting anyone to get hurt, he headed over to pick them up. As he put away the first armload, he noticed that the chickens had gotten out. He took some of the tools with him and fixed the gate, then put the tools down and chased after the chickens. He started to count the chickens that were back in the coop when he noticed his wife standing at the back door of the house waving at him. He ran to see what she wanted. She reminded him about a doctor’s appointment and asked him to mail the electric bill. He promised that he would. As he walked away, he remembered that the car needed an oil change… The original version of the story was better, but by the end of the day, how much do you think the farmer accomplished?
There are times when I am focused… in the zone…. There are other times when I’m “Do I hear geese? Oh, I know I’m an INTJ and a Choleric Melancholy, but what flavor of potato chip am I and can I get better than 10 out of 10 on that quiz?” (I guess I need dumber friends, or harder tests.)
The difference between the two is devotion. I am devoted to too many things. I have too many interests. When I want to get something done, I have to lay aside all those other things, even if they’re good things, and f.o.c.u.s. At least for a time, I have to close the door and shut the blinds to all other loves and responsibilities and devote my attention to that one important thing. That’s hard to do when it’s hot and there’s a pileated woodpecker tapping on the telephone pole, or when Dad says, “let’s take a drive” just as I’m sitting down to tap out a chapter on my keyboard.
Paul’s admonition to Timothy to be devoted to public reading of Scripture, teaching and preaching was meant to encourage Timothy in his calling. He was a pastor. I’m not. I like to think that it was easier to be focused back then, but I’m afraid the truth is that I don’t have my priorities straight. I don’t know, or I don’t think I know what my calling is. I don’t have a Paul to remind me that, oh yeah, I’m a writer. That means I need to be…ignoring that poor dog that was found on the street and wait until you see what it looks like now that they’ve cleaned him up, and ignoring that person whose argument makes no sense.
One tool that promotes devotion is a to do list. Mine is on my computer and it generates repeated items for me so I don’t have to spend half the morning thinking “Now what do I need to do.” I guess I’m sort of devoted to my to do list. I enjoy checking things off. I’m also learning about what I’m truly devoted to by seeing what things consistently do or don’t get done. I said I don’t have a Paul to remind me… maybe I do. Now I just need to stop wasting time feeling guilty for not doing everything and get on with doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
Oh, it was probably to tell you the story of the farmer who headed to the barn to milk the cows. On the way, he noticed that someone had left some tools on the ground. Not wanting anyone to get hurt, he headed over to pick them up. As he put away the first armload, he noticed that the chickens had gotten out. He took some of the tools with him and fixed the gate, then put the tools down and chased after the chickens. He started to count the chickens that were back in the coop when he noticed his wife standing at the back door of the house waving at him. He ran to see what she wanted. She reminded him about a doctor’s appointment and asked him to mail the electric bill. He promised that he would. As he walked away, he remembered that the car needed an oil change… The original version of the story was better, but by the end of the day, how much do you think the farmer accomplished?
There are times when I am focused… in the zone…. There are other times when I’m “Do I hear geese? Oh, I know I’m an INTJ and a Choleric Melancholy, but what flavor of potato chip am I and can I get better than 10 out of 10 on that quiz?” (I guess I need dumber friends, or harder tests.)
The difference between the two is devotion. I am devoted to too many things. I have too many interests. When I want to get something done, I have to lay aside all those other things, even if they’re good things, and f.o.c.u.s. At least for a time, I have to close the door and shut the blinds to all other loves and responsibilities and devote my attention to that one important thing. That’s hard to do when it’s hot and there’s a pileated woodpecker tapping on the telephone pole, or when Dad says, “let’s take a drive” just as I’m sitting down to tap out a chapter on my keyboard.
Paul’s admonition to Timothy to be devoted to public reading of Scripture, teaching and preaching was meant to encourage Timothy in his calling. He was a pastor. I’m not. I like to think that it was easier to be focused back then, but I’m afraid the truth is that I don’t have my priorities straight. I don’t know, or I don’t think I know what my calling is. I don’t have a Paul to remind me that, oh yeah, I’m a writer. That means I need to be…ignoring that poor dog that was found on the street and wait until you see what it looks like now that they’ve cleaned him up, and ignoring that person whose argument makes no sense.
One tool that promotes devotion is a to do list. Mine is on my computer and it generates repeated items for me so I don’t have to spend half the morning thinking “Now what do I need to do.” I guess I’m sort of devoted to my to do list. I enjoy checking things off. I’m also learning about what I’m truly devoted to by seeing what things consistently do or don’t get done. I said I don’t have a Paul to remind me… maybe I do. Now I just need to stop wasting time feeling guilty for not doing everything and get on with doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
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