Laughing Jesus by Robert Wilson, Sr.
(Vonda here. As some of you know, I was teaching at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference last week. But what you probably didn’t know is that Gary and I are also away this week–for our 47th anniversary! So I pulled out another oldie but goodie from past Parting Words for you. I hope it speaks to you as much as it spoke to me years ago. And yes, I needed to hear it again!)
Hello. My name is Vonda, and I am a procrastinator.
But even though I admit to being a procrastinator, being terribly unorganized, and having difficulty staying focused, that doesn’t mean I’m lazy or that I don’t get anything done.
The truth is I’ve tried goal setting, pep talks, berating myself, making schedules, setting timers, and turning off social media. But still, at the end of the day I often have little to show for all the great plans I had at the beginning of it.
I have to admit, the repeated frustration with all the real life interruptions has now encased me in procrastinator mode. I mean, why should I even try to work on that book-of-my-heart? My plans will just be interrupted anyway.
Besides, I’ve always said I couldn’t write in short segments. I’m a block-out-a-big-chunk-of-focused-time kind of writer.
But this past week God jerked that excuse rug right out from under my feet when He showed me a verse I’d never seen before.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (TLB)
Said another way:
Whoever watches the wind will not plant;
whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NIV)
Ouch.
What about you? What about me? Are we waiting for perfect conditions? Watching the wind? Distracted by the clouds? God’s Word tells us that we won’t get anything done. At least not those book-of-our-hearts projects.
Hello. My name is Vonda, and I’m a recovering procrastinator.
What about you?
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
