Hi, I'm Chris and I'm a procrastinator. (All say, Hi Chris!)
I've been a procrastinator most of my life. There have been times when I'm worse than others and just when I think I'm getting better, I fall into the same old trap. Instead of working ahead or on time like I should, I often wait until the last minute to finish projects, get things done, make the contacts I need to make. Things almost always gets done, and they are rarely late. But I wait until the very last minute.
Yes, I was one of those kids who stayed up and studied all night for a test the next day. I was one of those kids who waited until all of the stores were closed to tell his parents about the project that needed all of the supplies was due tomorrow. So I have a hard time getting to mad at my own kids for doing it. I'm a procrastinator.
It's not that I'm lazy. I don't wait to complete something because I'm chillin' out on the couch, eating bon-bons, watching ESPN or the Food Network. I'm busy doing things, important things, last minute things.
But I'm getting better.
The thing about procrastination that I have discovered is that it doesn't allow me to do my best work. And that frustrates me. When I wait until the last possible moment to complete a job, it's done in a way that I don't like, so then I stress over it until it is done right. And when I work on things to make them better, I'm having to put off other things until this one's complete. In other words, my procrastination stresses me because it doesn't allow me to get all of the things done I want and need to do with the quality I want to do them, because I'm always at a deadline.
So I'ved learned to work ahead, to make the sacrifices necessary to get things done and delegate appropriately so that more can be done better. I've learned to prepare for the future, the importance of seeing the big picture and making adjustments and plans to reach big goals. I've learned to play Chess (the game and the game of life), to think ahead several moves, to strategize, to plan ahead. I've learned to prioritize the important things of life: God, family, friends, Church (in that order). Important things can't wait until the last minute.
The stories in Matthew 25 are about prioritizing, risking, noticing. What they have in common is planning. Planning ahead to be ready, planning ahead to risk, planning ahead to see need. They are about living life on the edge, not in the safe center. They are about being ready for what ever is about to happen.
Procrastinators aren't ready for what they know is about to happen.
God's faithful are ready for the unknown, working while they're waiting, risking themselves because that's how Jesus lived.
The old saying is, "Don't put off 'til tomorrow, what you can do today."
The new saying is, "Don't do today what you can put off until tomorrow."
What does this have to do with our relationships?
Everything!
Our relationships should be highest on our priority list. We must take the greatest risks in nurturing them. We must be ready to sacrifice ourselves in keeping them.
To be a relational procrastinator is to be the loneliest person in the world.
Be ready, risk, and notice the opportunities to relate.
It can't wait any longer!
Peace ><>
pc
2 comments:
Procrastination...
I am getting better, but this was something I struggled with for a long time.
I am one of those people that can do amazing things under a little pressure. Not a lot, but a little procrastination helps me build up some momentum when I do finally start.
I have always wanted to be one of those people that finishes everything way before it is due, but I have concluded thats not going to happen, setting the foundation and then coming back to it seems to be my kind of approach. We all must prepare somewhat.
In regards to our relationships I think procrastination is almost always a bad thing. When someone else is counting on you and you let them down or needlessly stress them out, your wrong. Theres no real flip side to that.
There are exceptions though:
I recently gave up on a friend, because I was the one always calling him to see how he was doing and if we wanted to do anything, so I decided to just stop trying for a while... he called me up after a couple weeks and asked how I was doing and was wondering what was up. I was amazed and felt bad I had classified him a "lost cause" even if just temporarily.
He's been there for me lately and even when he hasn't been in the past, I can forgive him for it. I have to believe in redemption. He's stuck around for many years, even if on the fringes; hes stuck around, and thats more than I can say for some others...
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