I just got back from a 4 mile walk. \u00a0I love the morning walk, particularly when the birds are intent on serenading me. \u00a0The sun was warm and the other walkers wore smiles, as did I. \u00a0There was an occasional breeze which I appreciated. \u00a0I use my walk as a time for prayer and meditation. \u00a0My list of people is long, some times too long for much quiet time to hear God’s messages to me. \u00a0In fact, today I had a lot of difficulty being quiet. \u00a0I have a long list of projects that feel somewhat overdue. \u00a0I haven’t missed any deadlines but they are looming. The irony is that I so love my work that it’s not from procrastination that I feel rushed and tense. \u00a0It’s simply from the “list” that looms.<\/p>\n
If I were honest right now I’d have to say that God couldn’t get my attention for the quiet moments I needed with him because I was rearranging “the list” repeatedly. \u00a0\u00a0I can do this before lunch. . . \u00a0and that this afternoon. . . \u00a0and after having dinner with friends, I will tackle this. . . \u00a0And then tomorrow. . .<\/em><\/p>\n I have never failed to miss a deadline actually. \u00a0In fact, \u00a0I usually get finished ahead of time. \u00a0I think I get weighed down more by having a project, any project, undone. \u00a0And then when they are all finished, I rest and then get antsy and on the prowl for the next group of projects. \u00a0Actually I feel pretty lucky that I approach life in this fashion. \u00a0I know many who procrastinate themselves right out of jobs, or school, or marriages.<\/p>\n My approach, which may not work for everyone, is to work a few hours everyday on at least one or two projects. \u00a0I don’t sit in my office for an 8 hour stretch. \u00a0Not even a 4 hour stretch. \u00a0I break frequently, check email, make calls, eat a snack, get a news update. \u00a0And then pick up where I left off. \u00a0The rhythm I’ve grown accustomed to works for me. \u00a0Perhaps it’s one you could try too.<\/p>\n But I titled this blog: tension will mount<\/strong> so I want to return to that in closing. \u00a0My tension develops when I am too long away from my work. \u00a0As I mentioned in the preceding blog, my family visited for a week and it was a glorious time; however, I didn’t even address my list and it needs attention. \u00a0My walk was consumed with the rearrangement of it. \u00a0What I need and needed was time with God, not the list.<\/p>\n God got short-shrift when my family was here too. \u00a0Putting my spiritual life on-hold puts my well-being at risk. \u00a0I feel back on track now that I have written this and I’m grateful. \u00a0Thanks for your attention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I just got back from a 4 mile walk. \u00a0I love the morning walk, particularly when the birds are intent on serenading me. \u00a0The sun was warm and the other walkers wore smiles, as did I. \u00a0There was an occasional breeze which I appreciated. \u00a0I use my walk as a time for prayer and meditation. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[164,203],"class_list":["post-443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-karens-musings","tag-perseverance","tag-tension"],"yoast_head":"\n