Plank of Discontent
A big red Valentine to all you former procrastinators from me! I am so happy to have you in my life as encouragers and fellow sojourners on this road out of procrastination and into diligence – freedom, peace, joy. May the Lord bless you with a joy-filled week!
I don’t know about you, but my healthy discontent is about to drive me crazy. (See February 6, 2017 Healthy Discontent.)
Here’s the thing: I’m discontent about something all of which is not my responsibility to change. There’s too much stuff in this house – especially magazines, books, and papers. The two people who live here are both prone to accumulate those.
It’s time for me to review Matthew 7:3-5.
Does my husband have a speck in his eye? Maybe. But for sure I have a plank in mine. The irritation in my own eye affects my ability to correctly perceive any speck in his. As scripture says, I need to pay attention to my own problem. I have too much stuff. And that’s partly due to procrastination.
As I ponder this, I see a connection between how I perceive this problem and what my goals and desires are. Here’s what I notice.
My desire is to clean out the whole house. I do not have the authority or control necessary to clean out my husband’s stuff. Therefore, I must not make that a goal. I do have the authority and control to clean out my stuff. In that area, I can set goals. Instead of blaming somebody else, I can address my own problem. (Goals and Desires, March 2, 2015)
Instead of allowing too much stuff to drive me nuts-o, I can do something about it by working where I have control. When I’ve done that before, I’ve found my physical load in the house was lighter – and my heart and perspective were lighter as I viewed the things I did not have control over. (God is good!) I can pay attention where I have personal responsibility and be faithful there.
Frankly, I’m inclined to more discontent about someone else’s stuff when my own stuff is overwhelming me. Right now I feel overwhelmed by recently accumulated piles – magazines, books and papers. UGH! I do not like piles or the behavior in me that contributes to pile-building. Each time I procrastinate making a decision or taking the needed action a paper represents I build a higher pile. The stuff in the house SWELLS.
Healthy discontent moves me to act where I have control. I will deal with this plank that is in my eye. This is the step I am taking now: Get rid of every pile. Next week I want to tell you how I’ve done.
Does something you can’t control bug you? What goal can you define that relates to that desire?
