I was just about ten years old. Intrigued by the unusual—at least for a kid from the Midwest—I purchased three small lizards as pets. I called them chameleons, but in actuality they were American Anoles (polychrotidae). These little guys were fast, and clever. Coupled with their ability to change color, it was a constant challenge to keep them contained.
Walking into my bedroom one day after school, I caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of one darting across my room. What ensued was hours of searching, tracking and trying to catch my little tribe of lizards to get them back in their cage. One of them I never found.
Sometimes I feel the same today. I don’t keep lizards anymore, but there are a thousand projects, tasks and ideas darting around my mind. They zip across my to-do list, fast and clever, and constantly changing to blend in with a dizzying pace of life.
Since Nick Diliberto shared a story about his son catching one of these lizards in a message at the recent Preteen Ministry Leaders’ Conference, I’ve been thinking about how to catch this proverbial lizard. And whether you’re chasing them at home, in the office, or as part of your pursuit of spiritual growth, here are four steps that will help you get it done:
1. Notice. What are the things vying for your attention? Often, the most important things blend in to the background of a noisy life or long to-do list. I keep two lists. The first list is long: it’s a hundred things I’d like to do, I’ve been asked to do, or I wonder if I should be doing. I review this list daily, looking for changes in importance and urgency, and moving anything that’s now more important over to my much shorter to-do list.
2. Focus. Each afternoon, I try to identify one or two items from my shorter to-do list for my focus list for tomorrow. It is a decision in advance of what I will use my time to accomplish. I block off adequate time in my calendar to focus on these tasks and either finish them, or move them forward in a significant way.
3. Follow. In ministry, I’ve found that most of the important things we do are never really done. Relationships never get finished. Discipleship never gets checked off the list. Leadership is always above the line. These are the types of things I follow, or chase after.
They regularly get focus time, but are always on my list of things to pursue. I periodically ask myself, how am I doing with the significant relationships around me? How am I going to lead through this upcoming circumstance? Who am I investing in? Like a lizard on the move, they require our constant pursuit.
4. Catch. All of us need to finish things. We need to make the catch, complete the task, and finish the race from time to time. For that reason, I frequently give time to projects I can start and finish. It may be a publication, a message I share, or something I build with my hands. Regardless what it is, it always gives me a sense of satisfaction to catch something.
What is the elusive lizard in your life right now? What will you focus on, follow and catch today? Comment on this post to share your thoughts!