For years I have tried to reconcile being a detail-oriented planner with being a good follower of Christ. There is so much talk about how we need to surrender things and, for lack of a better phrase, “let go and let God.” So I would tend to consider my nature extra sinful, as I am prone to making decisions and thinking through the logistics.
I'll be the first to admit, I have my controlling moments, and yes, like most people, I do need to work on more trustfully surrendering my life to the will of God, regardless of the situation (Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence will shake up anyone’s world- give it a read sometime). But aside from that, for a while, there was still the anxiety that I was doing something wrong. I’m not even really sure what made this anxiety go away. Probably much is due to prayer, and the fact that event coordinators plan, plan, plan, but we have to be incredibly flexible because last minute changes are just a part of the job, and of life.
We all have our particular abilities and strengths, and we should exercise and even improve them. Details are just one of mine. In Mass a few days ago the priest said something that struck me in his homily. He was talking about married life versus religious. He commented that married people really have to live in the realities of this world. There is just no way around it. There are so many details that cannot be ignored in order to maintain a life, home, and take care of others. Religious have the opportunity to live a little more ascetic of a lifestyle. So thankfully, my natural strengths should help me better ease into my vocation. This did give me a bit of a paradigm shift. Maybe I don’t have to focus less on keeping life in order, but rather I can make these details, as part of my vocation, part of what allows me to grow in holiness.
It reminds me of the time I was venting to a priest about how I felt I just couldn’t make enough time to pray as much as I felt I should—to which he replied, “Well you don’t live in a monastery!” He reminded me that having a job, relationships, and daily tasks is part of life, and we have to embrace all of it- so long as we are including prayer as a part of our lives.
We can’t ignore the world and the details. We live in the world even though we are not of the world. And to function, society needs the free spirits, the innovative thinkers, and those with an eye for logistics. So use whatever your gifts are for the betterment of your vocation, your life, and your world.
I'll be the first to admit, I have my controlling moments, and yes, like most people, I do need to work on more trustfully surrendering my life to the will of God, regardless of the situation (Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence will shake up anyone’s world- give it a read sometime). But aside from that, for a while, there was still the anxiety that I was doing something wrong. I’m not even really sure what made this anxiety go away. Probably much is due to prayer, and the fact that event coordinators plan, plan, plan, but we have to be incredibly flexible because last minute changes are just a part of the job, and of life.
We all have our particular abilities and strengths, and we should exercise and even improve them. Details are just one of mine. In Mass a few days ago the priest said something that struck me in his homily. He was talking about married life versus religious. He commented that married people really have to live in the realities of this world. There is just no way around it. There are so many details that cannot be ignored in order to maintain a life, home, and take care of others. Religious have the opportunity to live a little more ascetic of a lifestyle. So thankfully, my natural strengths should help me better ease into my vocation. This did give me a bit of a paradigm shift. Maybe I don’t have to focus less on keeping life in order, but rather I can make these details, as part of my vocation, part of what allows me to grow in holiness.
It reminds me of the time I was venting to a priest about how I felt I just couldn’t make enough time to pray as much as I felt I should—to which he replied, “Well you don’t live in a monastery!” He reminded me that having a job, relationships, and daily tasks is part of life, and we have to embrace all of it- so long as we are including prayer as a part of our lives.
We can’t ignore the world and the details. We live in the world even though we are not of the world. And to function, society needs the free spirits, the innovative thinkers, and those with an eye for logistics. So use whatever your gifts are for the betterment of your vocation, your life, and your world.
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