Deadlines & Corners

In my favorite, political television drama, there's a scene where senior adviser is having a conversation with his assistant as the discuss a book written by a fictional consultant. In picking a passage at random; the assistant reads;

"It's good to be trapped in a corner. That's when you act". To this, the assistant acknowledges that that happens to be true. To which, the adviser replies, "It is. In my case, it's the only time that I do."

As I was pondering this, I got to thinking about deadlines. Deadline is an interesting word. Just hearing it, I imagine being called to the line, asked if you completed your assigned task and if not, sorry. Depending on your boss, this may feeling literally true, but it's not. Still, the pressure to get it done is there.

Left without a purpose, a plan, a timeline, not much will get done. What's the point in rushing to a goal that doesn't exist? Or the point of strategizing a plan that's not going to get implemented. Let's not forget everything that one encounters along the way to accomplishing the task at hand. Things meant to distract, dissuade, detour and derail. These are the things that come against you, that push back on your life, until time and space run out. It's at these times, that people and pastors start considering throwing in the towel. Maybe not on life altogether, but their job, their family, their friends... their ministry.

Pray, this #associatePastorTuesday, that pastors will be given a level of wisdom and discernment beyond themselves, in the situations and challenges they face. May they be encouraged, that the work they set out to do will be completed. Pray they be renewed in their focus to seek the face of God and pray over all situations. May they be empowered, not in their own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, to complete the projects and assignments they face. When up against the line and backed up to the wall, may they experience victory through the power of the Holy Spirit and the hand of God at work in their lives.

- PNC

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