So, what’s got you frazzled?

I remember reading a book when I was younger entitled, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…and it’s all small stuff”.

It was a simple reminder to keep things in perspective.

When Shannon and I were first married, we were discussing a few frustrations we were having with each other with my mom. I remember her saying that we were getting all upset about a bunch of stuff that was really no big deal. She even used the words, don’t sweat the small stuff. Our frustrations were so small, in fact, that I couldn’t remember them with a gun to my head today.

Most of what we worry about will not even be remembered in a month, let alone a year.

We normally consider this in regard to worries, but it also applies to achievement.

Our narcissistic tendencies get us all worked up about the importance of what we are doing. Now, I am a firm believer in living your life with purpose and to make a difference. But how often do we fail to enjoy our life’s work, because of our ambition. What’s the point of making a difference if you fail to do it with joy. If you ruin your marriage or have children that walk on pins and needles around you, what have you really accomplished?

I remember a conversation I had with someone about priorities in Christian ministry. He argued that ministry had to come before family. I argued (and still do) that you cannot prioritize the callings of God in your life. If God calls you to ministry and to be a husband or father, one of those is not any more important than the others. They all must be satisfied. 

The first three attributes of the fruit of the Spirit are love, joy and peace. And if that doesn’t describe how we are going about life, we are doing it wrong.

Case in point: I just reread through this and came to the conclusion that it’s clumsy and disjointed. But, I’m not going to sweat it and I’m going to hit “publish” anyway.