The Hardest Part of Doing is Doing

Ready…

Aim…

…

…

Does that sound familiar? Does it sound like your life? Does it sound familiar even within the work of the Church?

How much time do we spend learning how to be productive, but fail to be productive. In other words, we can read about every organization system in the world and every tip, trick, and shortcut that will help us get more done or have more margin in our lives, but never actually do any of them.

…and we are right back where we started.

That got me to thinking about more than just organizing my office or my files or my schedule. It caused me to think about the work that God requires of us in the Bible. How often do we read the command, plan how to implement that command in our life or in our congregation, evaluate our plans, reevaluate our plans, restudy the command, and then have a meeting to announce that we have planned how to do the command.

…and we are right back where we started.

Why? Because we’ve never actually done the command.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a rare combination of both dreamer and planner. Usually people are one or the other. People who dream big rarely like to go through what they think is the minutia of planning. People who enjoy putting things together rarely are big dreamers. While not perfect at either one, I am rare in that I am both a dreamer and planner.

But often, when I’m “in charge” of something, that planner in me comes out. I write out notes. I create organizational lists or charts. I look over records. I think of others who can help in the process. I look at every angle of how this thing needs to be done.

When that happens, too often, we get bogged down because we start planning to plan instead of planning to do.

Sound familiar?

It’s because the hardest part of doing is doing.

God requires us to do things. Now, is there a place for planning? Of course. We need the skills and wisdom of those who are able to put together dreams and make sure, as the old saying goes, “there is grease on the gears.” If that is your gift, you have a special gift, and the Church needs you.

But let me put one word of instruction here. Set a “shoot” date. What’s that? It’s the time you are actually going to “fire.” Instead of just cleaning the barrel and picking out ammo, at some point you have to actually pull the trigger.

“Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.”

“Care for the widows and orphans.”

Teach your children.

Feed the flock of God.

At some point, God’s people need to see the urgency of these commands and actually do the work. The next time you meet with the elders, the work committee, or even with yourself, set a “shoot” date. That takes care of the hardest part of doing…which is the doing.

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Photo credit: Cliff on creative commons

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