The theme of stewardship has arisen repeatedly over the last several months. From parables that Jesus told to podcasts and various articles that hit my inbox, it feels like I’ve encountered it everywhere. The variations on a theme include Sabbath and resting; viewing time usage as an investment of a limited resource; and intentionally evaluating each task and project in which one has the opportunity to partake to see how well it fits with one’s values, desires, and goals.
Dr. Colleen Hacker, a well-known sports psychologist, mentioned a quote in an interview I recently heard: “Do fewer things, but do the right things, and do the right things better.” (Dr. Hacker also specified that the quote isn’t original to her, but that she didn’t know the source.) That connects well with another concept that’s come up multiple times: for every new yes, a prior yes has to become a no. They both convey the idea that we have limits. We’re not superhumans, just normal humans, and can’t do everything, even everything we would like to.
I’ve undertaken a pretty significant new yes, after careful consideration and prayer about how I can best care for my family, both now and in the future. In order to do the right things better, I have to let go of some things that are “not right”, or perhaps “not right now”. My reading is one item I need to hold more loosely than I have in the past; it’s simply not realistic or a wise use of the limited time I have to expect to read 100+ books annually, even if the majority truly are worth the time.
The other item that I recognize I need to hold loosely is the schedule I’ve held for myself here. I’ve managed to publish something nearly every week for over 3.5 years. Although one could make the argument that some of them shouldn’t have been published, I’m still proud of the effort and discipline invested in maintaining that. It’s simply not feasible to expect that to continue. That’s not to say I’m done for good, that I won’t ever resume a weekly schedule, or even that I won’t be posting regularly in the near future. As I look to steward particularly my time well, it’s just something I can no longer expect of myself.
I’ll leave you with a link to the interview with Dr. Hacker. She has some good things to say, and is one of my favorite interview guests; I’m always glad to come across her work, regardless of medium.