From Diane Wells, Parish Administrator:I keep two lists. Actually, it’s one list with two names. The first name for the list that is numbered from one to infinity and includes things like 1) answer emails; 2) answer phone messages; 3) make breakfast; 4) put dishes away; 5) vacuum house (or at least part of the house!) ; 6) clean bathroom(s); 7) walk the pooch; 8) feed the cat; etc. etc. etc. is the “to do” list. And, as I cross items off of this “to do” list, it becomes my “to done” list. The more “to done” items I have on the list, the happier I am. Happier, that is, until the “to dos” begin to outpace the “to dones” and I slowly become aware of the fact that there is no way on earth (or anyplace else, for that matter) that I will ever be able to finish my list, let alone keep up with all of my responsibilities. That’s when my feeling of happiness takes a nosedive and I end up burned out, turned off, and ready to run as far away from my meaningless reality as I possibly can. I have established this pattern in my life and I repeat it over and over and over again. But I may have discovered a way to get out of this cycle. The key to avoiding this pattern is not to stop making lists. We all have tasks that need to be accomplished every day in order to achieve our goals. The key is to know what your goals are and always keep the big picture in mind. The tasks have to be situated in a framework of meaning because simply focusing on the tasks themselves will leave you feeling overwhelmed and under-fulfilled. So why am I doing all of that vacuuming and dishwashing and laundry and lawn mowing and weed pulling?? Because living in a lovely, well-cared for environment is good for the soul. WOW! All of a sudden scrubbing the bathroom floor has been transformed into a spiritual practice. I am discovering that for me, 99.9% of all of my tasks are ultimately some form of spiritual practice designed to make the world a better place one clean sock, one fruitful tomato plant, one helpful, pleasant encounter at a time. Looking at it that way, having an infinity of “to dos” becomes a blessing.
