Day 6/25: It’s hard being all things to all men
Open diary entry
Just a quick thought:
I play different roles in different peoples lives and i can’t lie it’s hard to maintain. In my bid to lead well, sometimes I feel as though my family and closest friends get the scraps of me. It’s hard for any to have all of me. I mean, when I’m there I’m physically and mentally present. But how often am I there?
I think of the pace of Christ, changing the world but still being able to be there for his family and friends. His first miracle, prompted by his mum to turn water into wine though it was not yet his time. ( Ostensibly such a simple story yes, but mannn how many times I’ve wanted to put project stuff above my mums requests.) Or the potential Well moments missed due to “busyness”. It’s interesting how qualifications for church leadership (1 Tim 3:1-13) references managing family well (vs 4.) I am no Pastor, but I do desire to be one that’s able to manage family well and do all the other stuff I’m created to do.
Family and friends are important. I want to get better at treating them as such. If you have any tips on this one, let me know in the comments.
NYA
This is such an interesting read! There is so many different roles to play in life and for so many people it can be difficult to navigate all these roles espeacially the ones don't necessary had a profession title like friend or a brother. Me personally I don't have a partner or children yet! I planning to go back and reread the ruthless elimination of Hurry as the pace of life has felt like it really picked up over the last couple. I even read blog about Turbulence in stillness by Josa and running overwhelming nothingness, that could definitely describe me right now. In terms of tips I am still looking for some. One analogy some painted to me is that in life you 5 glass balls, in which four (family, partner, friends, health) are made of glass and the other ball (work) is made if rubber. If you drop the glass ball enough times it willl surely break but the rubber ball will continue to bounce. I am really starting to life through it. Something that has help me this year is trying to be intentional and open about everything. I definitely haven't mastered it, far from it infact but speaking about it to them all trying to plan stuff in advance did help but just learning not to be more efficient with my academic time and being properly present in time I spent with friend has helped!
I think it comes down to being conscious of how limited and precious time is with your family. There’s only so much time until you have your separate lives and link ups are your ‘bonding moments’ but by putting time aside as you do with others (friends) could help? Otherwise I fear you’ll end up like Martha (Mary’s sister) if you apply to this situation unable to build faith and a better rapport