I need to do laundry. I need to vacuum my apartment. I need to make a few phone calls. I need to write this sermon for Sunday.
There’s so many things I need to do. I keep making lists. People to call, letters I must pen, and chores going undone build up until I can longer keep track of how many lists I truly have. One for work. One for The World Race. One for keeping my apartment organized. They go on and on.
Still, reality is not about lists. God’s kingdom is not made of lists.
I think about my life in the context of lists, I begin to become frustrated. I’ve always had lists of things to accomplish. This is helped along by my constant role of student for most of my life. Homework in seminary created quite a long list. As I look forward to life after graduation and hopefully going through ordination, I see more lists upon lists of tasks to finish.
This is my Lenten challenge. I must do away with my lists. I should enjoy the world God has created; from the jean shorts I’ve had for more years than I can count and can finally wear after this cold winter to the gorgeous weather that has descended upon Texas. It’s okay to walk away from my lists and enjoy the life I’ve been entrusted with. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that I never complete anything, but rather that I take life an hour or minute at a time and try to enjoy the tasks rather than check them off a list. I can’t ignore my responsibilities, but I can rethink how I consider these responsibilities.
Now it’s time to enjoy my favorite shorts and write a blog at the same time. Oh wait, that’s already done! What to do next?
