Priorities

There are two books with titles propounding worthy concepts.

First, “Make Your Own Bed,” by author Admiral William H. McRaven (U.S. Navy Seal Retired). It was on the #1 New York Times best seller.

The thesis is that if you begin your day doing a responsible thing well you set the tone for the day. Making your own bed is a simple thing, but a significant one. For most folks it is something that needs to be done daily. The author offers encouragement that by starting doing something worthwhile the mood is set for the day. In it he lists ten lessons he learned as a Navy Seal. They are:

        Start your day with a task completed

        You can’t go at it alone

        Only the size of your heart matters

        Life’s not fair—drive on!

        Failure can make you stronger

        You must dare greatly

        Stand up to the bullies

        Rise to the occasion

        Give people hope

        Never, ever quit!

The second book is “Big Rocks First” by Katrina Solomon. The author tells of a project that involves putting water, sand, small rocks, and large rocks in a bucket. If you put the smaller items in first there is little room for the big rocks, whereas if you put in the large rocks first the other items will fit in around and fill the space between the rocks. It is a work on setting priorities. Do the big things first and the lesser ones will fit in.

We came to Georgia long before the book was written. I saw right away the job I had to do had more to do than could be achieved in a day. Therefore I prayed, “Dear Lord, when the day is over there will be things left undone. Help me to prioritize my days so that what is left over is not more important than things done.” It is simply a first things first philosophy.

Next came my lifetime theme text: “…whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3: 23, 24)

The thesis works like this. Do what you do well, and the Lord is pleased, but people don’t like it and criticize you. You don’t get depressed because you didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

Suppose you do what you do as to the Lord, and He is pleased. People brag on you, compliment you, and pat you on the back, but you don’t take off on an ego flight. You didn’t do it for them, you did it for Him.

This affords you emotional equilibrium, a balanced life. 

Make your own bed and go put some big rocks in the bucket, as to the Lord.