Archive for Organization
What’s Best Next
Posted by: | CommentsOne of the things involved in blogging is reading other blogs. Usually, reading blogs and my writing on my own go hand-in-hand. So since I made a post yesterday, I checked out the posts of others.
One blog I hadn’t checked in on for quite some time is called ‘What’s Best Next.’ It’s by Matt Perman, whose description of his blog reads, “on integrating the big picture with everyday decisions so that we can do things better in life, work, business, and society.”
I used to check his posts out quite regularly and yesterday I was reminded why. His insights regarding organization and topics related are so sound. I don’t consider myself a very well organized person, but I am someone who values good organization and clearly sees my need for it. So I can’t help but recommend his blog and encourage anyone reading to check it out.
Have you ever realized how much trouble is caused by disorganization? And how much difficulty could be avoided if everyone were trustworthy with their commitments and orderly with their time? It’s worth thinking about and thus, striving to be better organized. It certainly would make for a better world.
Back to Blogging: For real?
Posted by: | CommentsThe same thing happens every single time I move to a new place. For about one month, I am more or less out of sorts. I have difficulty finding a good routine because of my new surroundings and new schedule and little things fall by the wayside. My emails pile up (I think I have over 50 in my Next Action Folder (ones I have to reply to)…usually I try to keep it to 20 tops). Blog posts become scarce. Life is just a bit scattered.
Then things begin to settle down and I realize how frustrated I am with the lack of routine. In my frustration, I write down my essentials. And one of the first things I do is start blogging about how important a good routine is! So here I am again. I suppose you could say that this process has become something of my routine. I just wish I could learn to adjust a bit quicker!
Yet at the same time, after picking up and moving to Italy for, Lord willing, the next 9 months, I have realized why finding a good routine is such a struggle. Indeed, I have seen more clearly than ever why this process of playing overseas is often so difficult. I spend three months at home (if I am a lucky one). By the time I leave, I have found a good rhythm And then I pick up and move to a new place where you have to more or less set up an entirely new life.
Where’s the grocery store? Where can we find the best bread? What bank do I need to get set up with and who can take me down there? Where can my kids find friends and activities? Where’s the best place to eat? The list goes on and on. Sure, they are all little things, but they are little things that I take for granted while at home. Indeed, they are what most of us take for granted. We just have all these little, normal life things set and don’t realize what comfort we derive from it. Or, if we don’t have them set, and move to a new place, the new place often is in the same country, so there is a certain degree of familiarity. We can usually find one of our favorite restaurants in the area. And most importantly, we don’t need someone to take us everywhere, because we actually speak the language. Not so here, at least for me.
In saying all this, I am by no means complaining. I learn a great deal through the process. And I see that it is wise to sometimes sit back and look at your life from the outside in order to understand why things might not be so easy. It helps you to relax a bit, believe it or not, and, at least for me, enjoy the journey. And maybe, just maybe, it will help me to blog consistently once again!
A Good Kind of Control
Posted by: | CommentsThough I have spent about a year in Turkey, I am far from understanding the Turkish language. One thing I have noticed, however, is my trainer’s use of the word, ‘Control.’
For example, if I haven’t had an injury, but want to get an MRI because my knee is hurting, my trainer will explain to the specialists that our reason for being there is for, ‘Control.’ So also if we take our kids to the doctor for a check-up. Or if one of my teammates wants to get taped before practice. To him at least, it’s all about ‘control.’
Now, I’m not sure if the use of such a word is widespread or if my trainer is the only one who uses it in this way here in Turkey. Either way, after hearing him use the word in this context today, I began to reflect upon what he was really saying. And the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. For his use of the word points to a good kind of control, indeed, I can go so far to say, a godly kind of control.
If you think about the scenarios I gave above, when my trainer uses the word, ‘control’ to describe what is taking place, I believe that what he is really saying is, ‘We are being diligent. We are looking ahead. We are trying to stay healthy or prevent something bad from happening. We are staying on tops of things and to remain aware of what is going on. We are exercising control as best we can.’
And if this is what he is really saying, this is very wise. Not only that, but it is biblical. For God is a God who is in control. He is also a God who wants us, indeed, commands us, to exercise control in such a way that we bring Him glory. (For proof on that front, check out Genesis 1:28 and the book of Proverbs).
And if this is truly the case, as it is, we can be sure that control is a good thing, as long as we don’t take it to an extreme. Staying on top of our health or our schedules or our temperament or our home or our studies or even our grass is wise and good. When done in dependence upon Him and with a view towards His honor, it glorifies God and in turn, blesses everyone else.
A question: Can you imagine if everyone in the world exercised control over what they were supposed to, to the degree that they were supposed to? What a wonderful place the world would be.
But that is the way things are supposed to be. We are supposed to be on top of things, to exercise control in our various areas of responsibility in a way that benefits everyone. No manipulation. No over-control. No maneuvering things for our own personal benefit. But controlling things the way we ought to control things, with diligence, discipline, love, patience, wisdom, humility, and every other good thing you can think of.
Sure, it won’t all take place perfectly within the next week. People will continue to seek control over others and over circumstances for their own personal benefit (often with no thought of its effects on others). But one day, things will be made new. At least according to the Bible, Jesus will return and perfect a people who will exercise control perfectly…forever. I can’t wait.
Until then, I will strive to ‘control’ what I ought to control and to trust God with the rest, all with a view towards pointing a way to what is soon to come.
