I’ve been stretched pretty thin lately. I realize that I’m at another one of those junctures where I need to know less so I can do more.
I’ll never forget an incident a few years ago. I was feeling pushed to my personal limits and we had a “lightbulb” issue and it was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I had to make the “lightbulb” decision and it showed me that I knew way too much about too many things. Too much was too dependent on me!
I think part of the challenge is that as a church planter I used to do everything! If anything was going to get done I had to do it. But I’ve got to learn to let go.
So here’s my thought.
Jesus left needs unmet in every town he visited.
To meet every need in every village he would have had to stay there forever to address every new need.
I love Mark 1:35-37. The disciples are looking for Jesus. He is in high demand. His popularity ratings are off the charts! They said to Jesus, “Everyone is looking for you.” And Jesus says, “We must go on to other towns as well.”
Translation: we have to leave some needs unmet. That sounds uncaring, but that is reality. We can’t meet everybody’s need. We’ve got to discern which needs the Holy Spirit wants us to make.
I’m sure Jesus wrestle with the perenial pressure all of us feel: there is so much to do and so little time.
Such is life.