One of the things I had to learn as a young pastor was to be organized. Some of you may ask if I have conquered it yet after looking in my office. But yes for the most part I think I have. If you are thinking you need a change listen to what Gordon MacDonald says about a disorganised life. See if you recognise any: '(1) Appointments/messages/deadlines missed. I know I'm disorganised when there are a series of forgotten appointments, telephone messages to which I have failed to respond, and deadlines which I have begun to miss. The day becomes filled with broken commitments and lame excuses... (2) Unproductive tasks. If I am disorganised I tend to invest my energies in unproductive tasks; there is a tendency toward daydreaming and avoidance of decisions that have to be made, and procrastination... (3) Lack of intimacy with God. Disorganised Christians rarely enjoy intimacy with God. No one has to tell them that time must be set aside for the purpose of Bible study and reflection, for intercession, for worship. They know all of that. They simply are not doing it. They excuse themselves, saying there is no time. But they know it is more a matter of organisation and personal will than anything else... (4) Shallow personal relationships. Days pass without a significant conversation with my son or daughter. My wife and I will be in contact but our conversations may be shallow. I may become irritable, resenting any attempt on her part to call attention to things I have left undone or people I appear to have let down. (5) Lack of self-esteem. When we are disorganised in our control of time we just don't like ourselves, our jobs, or much else about our worlds. And it is difficult to break the destructive pattern that settles in. This terrible habit pattern of disorganisation must be broken, or our private worlds will quickly fall into total disorder.' Getting our lives right in every area just makes everything right. You are loved!
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