Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10
Anyone else out there ever get stuck watching a really distressing amount of Elmo's World? A major feature of that show revolves around Elmo checking up on his neighbor, Mr. Noodle, who is always attempting something interesting, and usually doing it wrong. He tries to read a book, for instance, and struggles with such basics as opening the cover and holding it right-side up. Meanwhile, Elmo and a helpful but creepy chorus of disembodied children's voices shout instructions to him. I think the segment is meant to demonstrate to kids that we can only accomplish our goals through persistent effort, and we shouldn't give up when things are hard. I personally worry because no one ever addresses with Elmo the impropriety of constantly spying on the neighbors. (Also, why do Elmo's window shade and table drawer conspire to make his life difficult? Is it because they know he's a snoop? Just wondering...)
The medium may be a furry muppet with socialization problems, but the message is familiar. Don't give up! If at first you don't succeed, etc. etc. This is valuable advice if the motivation for giving up is frustration. Especially for little kids, the tendency is to be aggravated by the unexpected difficulty of a task. What to do, though, when the problem is not frustration, but weariness? Not the difficulty of a task, but it's constancy? Or even just the sheer number of things that have to be done?
When there is a never ending mountain of work to be done and no realistic chance of finishing, that is when even the grown-ups want to quit. Even worse, sometimes we know from our experience that doing our very best will not be enough to make the changes in the world that need to be made. We can finish all the tasks on the list, and there will still be needs to be met, and work to be done. How do we follow the exhortation from Galatians and not become weary?
It seems to require a little strategic giving up. When the work is overwhelming, make peace with the realization that it will not all get done. Tell yourself, maybe every day that you won't finish all the things you really need to get done. Instead, ask yourself "what CAN I do?" Here in this moment, I can accomplish something, help someone, get something started, make just a little more out of my time. It won't happen, though, if I can't let go of my list, my expectations. I have to face, not the fear of failure, but it's certainty. This day will get away from me. There will be a pile of unfinished something still looming over my head. So each task I undertake must be something valuable unto itself. I have to quit thinking in terms of getting done with everything and instead work to contribute something good to the world every time I get the chance.
The fact that I cannot clean the whole house (or the whole living room) will not stop me from picking up the legos! I will heroically save my family from painful foot injuries! What next? I can't reverse poverty, but I really can give something to the food bank when the grocery store has those handy coupons at the check-out. I should have posted at least 6 blogs in the month since I started working on blogging again. Instead, I've spent four weeks knocking this post out a few sentences at a time. Guess what? That's still more writing than I've done in a year. Progress! I may never make all the difference I wish to make, but I will never stop making some difference, if I persevere. So, what CAN you do today? Don't give up, Mr. Noodle.
The medium may be a furry muppet with socialization problems, but the message is familiar. Don't give up! If at first you don't succeed, etc. etc. This is valuable advice if the motivation for giving up is frustration. Especially for little kids, the tendency is to be aggravated by the unexpected difficulty of a task. What to do, though, when the problem is not frustration, but weariness? Not the difficulty of a task, but it's constancy? Or even just the sheer number of things that have to be done?
When there is a never ending mountain of work to be done and no realistic chance of finishing, that is when even the grown-ups want to quit. Even worse, sometimes we know from our experience that doing our very best will not be enough to make the changes in the world that need to be made. We can finish all the tasks on the list, and there will still be needs to be met, and work to be done. How do we follow the exhortation from Galatians and not become weary?
It seems to require a little strategic giving up. When the work is overwhelming, make peace with the realization that it will not all get done. Tell yourself, maybe every day that you won't finish all the things you really need to get done. Instead, ask yourself "what CAN I do?" Here in this moment, I can accomplish something, help someone, get something started, make just a little more out of my time. It won't happen, though, if I can't let go of my list, my expectations. I have to face, not the fear of failure, but it's certainty. This day will get away from me. There will be a pile of unfinished something still looming over my head. So each task I undertake must be something valuable unto itself. I have to quit thinking in terms of getting done with everything and instead work to contribute something good to the world every time I get the chance.
The fact that I cannot clean the whole house (or the whole living room) will not stop me from picking up the legos! I will heroically save my family from painful foot injuries! What next? I can't reverse poverty, but I really can give something to the food bank when the grocery store has those handy coupons at the check-out. I should have posted at least 6 blogs in the month since I started working on blogging again. Instead, I've spent four weeks knocking this post out a few sentences at a time. Guess what? That's still more writing than I've done in a year. Progress! I may never make all the difference I wish to make, but I will never stop making some difference, if I persevere. So, what CAN you do today? Don't give up, Mr. Noodle.
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