Beyond Procrastination

Available for 24 days

Good morning. Later today, I have to go to the dentist. It’s only a check-up, though rather delayed because I kept putting it off, with excuses of busyness. I can’t say I’m looking forward to it! Human beings are perverse creatures. We know what is good for us: getting our teeth regularly checked, and having any issues dealt with as soon as possible, is certainly something we know we ought to do. But we are also so very capable of dodging and avoiding what we don’t enjoy or welcome, even if we know that this could cause us a lot more trouble down the road. The short-term positive payoff looms larger within us than the long term costs of delay. It may be common sense to do the right thing, right now, but what if we don’t find it easy?! Exercising our will power can really be quite a struggle! Those of us observing Lent are called to take up our cross and follow after Jesus. I wonder if one way we do this is by calling out our own procrastination, picking up our cross, picking up what we need to do, and just getting on with it – going forward one step at a time, one step after another. Lord Jesus Christ, you were not afraid to set your face towards Jerusalem. Help us to name our procrastinating, and our attempts to avoid doing what we ought to do, and in offering them to you, receive your encouragement and strength to do what we ought, when we ought. Amen