I’ve been reading this book lately about getting things done. It’s by a guy named David Allen. Here’s his website. I’m sure I’m not the only one (no, really, I’m sure) that let’s his mind wander of into a variety of useless meanderings for no reason at all, or finds himself surfing the internet when he knows that he should be putting together a sermon or letter or making a phone call or whatever. I found a number of other fun websites like 43 folders, Structured Procrastination, and Marktaw.I even found other fun tools to get me back to work.
The thing is, today we have so many professions that are based on “knowledge power.” We’re paid to think, to lead, to inspire, or whatever else. Funny thing is, some of the most inspiring people in history struggled with daily drive and apathy. Indeed, it’s not that uncommon, and we shouldn’t feel like a complete failure whenever we find ourselves wandering within our minds.
Martin Luther struggled with the depressing thoughts of uselessness when he found himself not “accomplishing.” It’s especially difficult when you’re in service roles like ministry, therapy/counseling, teaching, and other jobs that pour into other people. I call these “significance roles” because they are based more on the significance of making a difference than the success of making money or producing for the sake of it. These are the most rewarding roles for those who do them. They are also, ironically, the most discouraging when a person feels like they are failing at their trade.I can totally relate to this.
When you’re a youth pastor, it breaks your heart every time you see a student going down a destructive path. It breaks your heart even more when you allow yourself to say things like “That would’ve never happened if I had just…” But we can’t do that. We can’t play that game. If God is really who He says He is, then we live under grace and forgiveness and our value and worth is determined by Christ, not ourselves. And certainly not our own accomplishments.
So, if you’re reading this and you’re one of the many people in the world that sit around thinking about how much you suck at life, realize this: you do suck. In fact, we all do… seriously, I’m not joking. It’s precisely because we suck that we need God, and that’s a good thing! If we didn’t suck at life then we wouldn’t feel like we needed God and if we felt like we didn’t need God, we would miss out on life’s greatest adventure in relationship.