Deep Weekend Thoughts

Posted on 01.13.07 in Thoughts and there are 7 comments.

"What is urgent is rarely important.”

“What is popular is rarely righteous.”

“What is comfortable is rarely beneficial.”

Do you agree or disagree?

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What is urgent is rarely important.

You may have read Steven Covey’s 7 Habits book somewhere along the way.  When prioritizing tasks, he breaks them down into four categories:

1. Urgent and important
2. Not urgent but important
3. Urgent but not important
4. Not urgent and not important

He says that if you’re spending a lot of time doing the things in the first category, you’re probably not prioritizing your time very well.  People who spend most of their time in category 2 tend to prevent spending a lot of time in category 1.

Agree on 1 & 2.  But must dissent on 3.  There are many comfortable things that are beneficial--good relationships, a good night’s rest, good books.  In fact, I think there is a danger in the “no pain, no gain” mentality.  Sometimes we becomes addicted to or committed to the “pain” experience in and of itself with no regard for the actual ends--like martyrs for no good cause.  (But I probably shouldn’t discuss this with a woman about to give birth and run a marathon--very painful and beneficial endeavors).

Yea, I’d definitely agree with the last two.  Though the first isn’t always the case.  There are plenty of “urgent” issues with my kids are important too--but I do get the point trying to be made.  They’re good reminders.

Good point Michelle.  Now that I think of it, when it comes to disciplining my small daughters, almost every instance is urgent and important.  However, most of the demands my girls think are urgent, are neither urgent nor important.

Michelle, I agree. I guess I was thinking more along the lines of “urgent” things other than my family…

I often find that if something is “urgent” and requires me to turn my attention away from:
1. God
2. My husband
3. My children

It is rarely truly important and I need to try not to get swept away by the emotion or persuading of others.

I think that with all these quotes, your mileage my vary depending on your personality. I find I too often say things like:
“I’ll take care of that later girls, I have an urgent call to make.”

“I’ll play with you in a minute, it’s urgent that I make supper right now.”

In reality, had I planned better, I could have made the call during their naptime or done the majority of the dinner preparation earlier in the day....or made time so that they could be a part of it. Instead, what has become urgent is only urgent because of my own procrastination (or sometimes that of others) and as a result I “have” to put off those people that are truly important.

Crystal,
While I agree with what you’re saying about the dangers of a “no pain, no gain” mentality, I personally deal more with living my life to be comfortable rather than to grow and change and reach out to others.

For example, my husband and I are small group leaders at our church and on Sunday mornings during the ministry time at the end, we’re encouraged to go forward to pray with those responding to the sermon. I REALLY don’t like to do this. It feels awkward. Being 6 months pregnant I don’t really want to stand in front of 1000 people. I just want to stay in my seat and then get my kids and go eat lunch. I’m comfortable there.

But my husband has a heart to pray for and help others and while I don’t have to go, I know it’s good for me to think about and pray for someone other than myself. Each Sunday I dread it, but then each Sunday I’m SO glad that I had an opportunity to pray with the person that God brought my way.

I think that in general we have more of a tendency to seek comfort than to seek “pain for gain.”

My 2 cents.

Great insight from both of you. Thanks for bringing balance to these thoughts!

Rick,
I’ve started reading that book several times, but I’ve not actually made it through.

I think I’m going to have to use that system to organize my to do list. Hmm...that’s just what I need, another reason to tweak my to do list. I should join productivity junkies anonymous.

I was thinking about the comfortable thing during our Sunday School (ABF) prayer request/prayer time this morning.  We are so comfortable sharing physical ills and trials--sickness, loss of job, etc.  But in this setting, I never hear prayer for spiritual struggles.  I think this wonderful class is in a bit of a prayer rut.  That’s not to say that deeper sharing doesn’t happen in other small group sessions.  I just often wonder “What’s the point?  Aren’t we praying about earthly stuff that has little to do with God’s kingdom?” Our current pattern is VERY comfortable and marginally beneficial I think.

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