Those of you who are avid West Wing watchers will get the reference. The Josiah Bartlett approach to leadership: make the call, do the thing, what's next?
My life feels a little like that just now. Take the last couple of days: Stay up most of Tuesday night, cook breakfast Wednesday morning, go to school, teach three lessons, mark some essays, prep another lesson, start to sort out cover, leave school, what's next? go to work team meeting, leave team meeting, catch up on other work, make calls, keep an eye on the news, what's next? read people's blogs, go to cinema, watch great film (Before Sunset- for another post), what's next? Pick up CD, go to pub, talk politics, drop friend off, what's next, sleep. Get up, read emails, think about Lollards, have bath, prep teaching, drive to town, what's next? buy food, prep teaching, meet interns, do teaching, what's next, drive to Thurrock, whats next, do meeting, what's next? have lunch catch ups, what's next? talk boiler, more meetings, let God speak, pray some, more meetings, what's next? drive home, plan prayer room, meet fish, watch West Wing, pack school bag, what's next? Think prayer room, sleep, think meetings, email directions, teach lessons... ooh no.. haven't gotten there yet.
In the West Wing we are led to believe that this is a good way to live- that it gets things done and all that. I think a lot of us think its a good way to live. But the thing is that it misses so much out. Without space to reflect we can get to a point where tings are not appreciated as much as they should be: sitting in my classroom with twenty minutes before a lesson I am getting the chance to reflect just a little bit.
You see, in the midst of all my craziness there were some beautiful things:
The list could go on and on: and yet I nearly missed it. I'm really looking forward to slowing down, to be able to truly suck the marrow out of life, to reflect.
But for now: what's next?
My life feels a little like that just now. Take the last couple of days: Stay up most of Tuesday night, cook breakfast Wednesday morning, go to school, teach three lessons, mark some essays, prep another lesson, start to sort out cover, leave school, what's next? go to work team meeting, leave team meeting, catch up on other work, make calls, keep an eye on the news, what's next? read people's blogs, go to cinema, watch great film (Before Sunset- for another post), what's next? Pick up CD, go to pub, talk politics, drop friend off, what's next, sleep. Get up, read emails, think about Lollards, have bath, prep teaching, drive to town, what's next? buy food, prep teaching, meet interns, do teaching, what's next, drive to Thurrock, whats next, do meeting, what's next? have lunch catch ups, what's next? talk boiler, more meetings, let God speak, pray some, more meetings, what's next? drive home, plan prayer room, meet fish, watch West Wing, pack school bag, what's next? Think prayer room, sleep, think meetings, email directions, teach lessons... ooh no.. haven't gotten there yet.
In the West Wing we are led to believe that this is a good way to live- that it gets things done and all that. I think a lot of us think its a good way to live. But the thing is that it misses so much out. Without space to reflect we can get to a point where tings are not appreciated as much as they should be: sitting in my classroom with twenty minutes before a lesson I am getting the chance to reflect just a little bit.
You see, in the midst of all my craziness there were some beautiful things:
- the telling of stories and seeing how God has made some beautiful connections, weaving the plot lines of different people's lives into one another.
- a wonderful conversation (do go see Before Sunset, its beautiful)
- some first time conversations
- laughter
- a lovely moment around chip and pin with the lady in Iceland
- some penny dropping moments as I taught (for me as well as the tutees)
- praise
- the word of God, proclaimed and spoken
- encouragement
- love
- wisdom
The list could go on and on: and yet I nearly missed it. I'm really looking forward to slowing down, to be able to truly suck the marrow out of life, to reflect.
But for now: what's next?
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