The Pervasive Thief of Now
Pandemic-motivated carpentry has been one of my coping mechanisms across the dynamic, uncertain 2020-21 terrain. After consulting with an expert and YouTube “how-to” videos for guidelines about completing various woodworking tasks, I was encouraged to purchase a circular saw.
My search yielded pieces of equipment priced at ranges way out of my humble reach. After much prayer, the search was intensified. On a very promising afternoon, I found myself facing the elusive saw—priced at one-eighth of other prices I’d seen. Reluctant, and startled, I turned and quickly called an expert whose rushed response was, “What? At that price? It’s a gift! No need to stay here on the phone questioning the authenticity. Grab it!” I quickly retraced the few feet to the saw’s location to find a contractor with the said saw in his hands. He completed a hasty inspection and smilingly secured it in his shopping cart. I could hear the loud screams in my head, but could not bring myself to confront this burly contractor about retrieving “my” saw. Quickly composing myself, I closed my lips that stood ajar in utter shock and dismay. The tedious, budget-constrained search continued.
What did you delay or put off yesterday that you planned to follow up with today; and it now appears that perhaps, tomorrow will be the best day to get it done? Every individual can readily identify a couple of responsibilities, tasks, or goals that they took a rain check on or temporarily avoided.
It’s human nature! According to statistics “On average, a person loses over 55 days per year procrastinating, wasting around 218 minutes every day doing unimportant things. Here’s the math: 218 minutes/day x 365 = 79,570 minutes = 55.3 days.” (5 Types of Procrastination [And How to Fix Each of Them]; https://bit.ly/3cEoiMI).
A search of the Internet reveals a number of other authorities who also note that there are various types of procrastinators (and reasons for procrastination), for example, the perfectionist, dreamer, avoider, and crisis-maker. There are also a multitude of consequences, which include “blown” opportunities, loss of time, unmet goals, and ruined careers, to name a few.
Today, now, not soon or later, Jesus calls us to be overcomers. We can begin attacking and gaining victories over procrastination today. We may need to first face it, admit that we are thus challenged, and identify the motivation/reason. Thereafter, we are called to make time management and organizational aptitude life goals—set personal deadlines, reduce all distractions, secure an accountability partner who will provide positive pressure, break tasks into manageable/achievable segments, or rotate everyday goal/task-related activities.
In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency.”
Even our salvation can be at risk if we continue to hug and kiss in the arms of procrastination. God, in the holy scriptures notes that now is the time. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”—2 Corinthians 6:2, KJV.
Today, let’s prayerfully seek God’s deliverance from this pervasive thief—procrastination. Not sooner or later; let’s do it now!