One Opportunity You Don't Want to Miss
by Cory MacNeil

As a pastor, I'm always looking to take things to the next level.  The looming question is, "what can I do to improve this situation, relationship, infrastructure, etc?  The problem is it's so easy to get caught up in progress that we fail to do one important thing.

The fact you are reading this post indicates your interest in getting the most out of life.  But when is the last time you took time to celebrate your accomplishments?  What happens is that things in motion, have a tendency to stay in motion.  While you're busy getting slimmer, wiser, savy, and more spiritual, don't miss the plot.  Take the opportunity to reflect and appreciate your hard work.

"All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy."
"All work and no play, makes Jill a dull girl."

Rainy days can be an overachiever's worst enemy or their best friend.  Why?  Because they derail progress for the day (or can).  Or, you can use them to do something you ordinarily wouldn't.

Last night I went to bed an hour early.  This morning I got up an hour late and drove the length of Lake George.  I bought a cup of coffee from Stewarts.  Once home, I walked barefoot in the yard on the wet grass.  I talked with my one remaining chicken for a few minutes.  Her name is Peaches, in case you were wondering.  I put out the recycling and trash cans.  I stood back and looked at my half- painted house from a distance.  I caught up on social media and email.  And now I'm taking a few minutes to write.

So when is the last time you ditched your routine for awhile and smelled the coffee?  It may sound ironic, but sometimes less is more.  Less sawing and a little sharpening makes for more cut wood.  It's SO easy to keep hacking with a dull ax when it only takes a little bit of time to resharpen and refocus.  This principle applies to all areas of life, not just wood chopping.

A few moments or hours of reflection can take you farther than a years worth of work.

During your downtime, you can watch your children play- study their motions, watch them swim.

Reread a small piece of your manuscript and make a few corrections.

Watch the wind make the flowers, grass and trees in your yard dance.

Study some ants on your sidewalk for twenty minutes.

Walk your yard and check out the details.

Write a poem.

Pen a love letter to your spouse.

There is a difference between working for a living and living for work.  Work is wonderful, I don't know where I'd be without it. But it's also wonderful to stand back and appreciate our work and be thankful.

How about you?  I know you work hard, and I know you want to keep moving forward.  But you exist to do more than work.  If it's been awhile since you took sometime to reflect, what better time to start than TODAY!  Better yet carve out some time in your daily routine to rest and refuel.