The Urgent vs. The Important

What eats up your time?

What tugs at you all day?

What tempts you toward procrastination or laziness?

What unnecessarily fills up your calendar?

Every day each of us are presented with choices. For some of us, the choices presented come hourly, others even more frequently. The balance I am still learning to find is between the urgent and the important. Though this is a common concept taught to young professionals it is one that takes years to master. We must not merely evaluate what is important, that which will best serve the vision of the organization, we must follow through and weed out the urgent, that which appears last minute and draws us away from the important. The urgent can also mask itself as being supportive of the important yet we must not fall prey to its temptation while getting caught up in busyness and tedious work.

Eugene H. Peterson, in The Contemplative Pastor, writes, "I am busy because I am lazy. I indolently let others decide what I will do instead of resolutely deciding myself...If I vainly crowd my day with conspicuous activity or let others fill my day with imperious demands, I don't have time to do my proper work, the work to which I have been called. How can I lead people beside the still waters if I am in perpetual motion?"

What I most appreciate about Peterson's statement is his humble honesty in which he takes responsibility for not taking responsibility. The beauty and danger of the urgent versus the important is that the easy way out is to allow ourselves to rush off to do something exciting and fresh as we justify our actions in fulfilling the urgent while the important is silently ignored.

The danger is that when we allow ourselves to succumb to the urgent too frequently, the important is left alone as the whole show begins to unravel. This is dangerous in any environment whether at work or in one's spiritual life.

So how do we overcome this battle? Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of Defense, said, "Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning."

1. Be Vigilant From Day to Day. Planning definitely plays a major role in overcoming the temptation of the urgent. Cautiously guard your calendar as you plan each day.

2. Learn to Say NO. We can not allow ourselves to become busy with tasks that seem to result in quick results.

3. Do not Forget the Big Picture. If we evaluate tasks in light of the long term vision and goals of the organization, as well as our individual calling, we will be more likely to choose the important over the call of the urgent.

4. Make a Firm Decision and Move Forward. Life is full of flat squirrels who couldn't make a decision.

Lord, as I move into the next phase of life, grant me the wisdom needed to find balance in both my spiritual life, family life, and business. May you help me stay vigilant, learning how to say no while keeping the big picture in mind as I move forward. May I learn to consistently overcome the temptation to succumb to the urgent. May I honor you in choosing to do what is important as I seek to fulfill your calling for me, my family and my employer.