One morning, Farmer
Jones told his wife he was going out immediately after
breakfast to plow the back pasture. But the tractor
needed oil, so he went to the shop to get some. On the
way he noticed the pigs weren't fed - so he proceeded to
the corn crib.
The feed sacks in the
corn crib reminded him that his potatoes were sprouting.
On the way to the potato shed, he passed the wood pile
and remembered his wife wanted firewood for the kitchen
stove. By the time he had picked up a few sticks, an
ailing chicken passed by. He dropped the wood and
reached to help the mother hen.
When lunchtime
arrived, the frustrated farmer was asked by Mrs. Jones:
"Did you get the south pasture plowed?"
"Nope," was his reply, "I didn't even get
the John Deere oiled. I intended to, but..."
How many times have we
intended to do something important, but were distracted
and never accomplished it? This is called "The
Tyranny Of The Urgent." Whenever we are able to
eliminate, delegate, procrastinate or "forget"
some work, something else always arises to take its
place.
Consultant Larry
Barkan says, "There is no such thing as 'time
management.' I hope that statement doesn't shock you who
have attended time management seminars, read time
management books or tried somehow to reduce your
hopelessly overburdened work schedule. We cannot 'manage
time,' but we can manage ourselves with respect to time.
Work always expands to meet the time available."
Perhaps Farmer Jones
needed to listen to the advice given in his Bible:
"Make the best possible use of your time"
(Colossians 4:5, Phillips). Time must be mastered or it
will master us. Here are two simple ideas:
1) Do one thing at a
time. I'm reminded of a man named Charley, who felt he
could talk on the phone, write a memo, eat his cheese
sandwich and check with his computer on the latest Wall
Street stock market report. Charley was doing nothing
but buying himself stress and distress. If you are
having lunch, relax and enjoy it! Practicing doing one
thing at a time will create for you an attitude of ease
towards even the most chaotic of situations.
2) Do you feel
stressed, pressured, or upset? Then slow down. This is
not the time to press ahead. "In quietness and
confidence shall be your strength" (Isaiah 30:15).
"Take Three on
Monday Morning" is written and published by Robert
D. and Robert L. Foster. Permission to reproduce with
proper credit is freely given and encouraged.
