People or Tasks? Can People be Tasks?

Multitasking woman

When do you work and when do you engage with those around you? Do you struggle with resentment when trying to be productive and a relationship presents itself? When do you choose to  play or relax when you should or need  to accomplish something? Are you more lazy or are you too busy with work? These questions should poke at you! If you have been reading this past year at all, you know that I am more likely to work than play.

For me, I am more likely to obsess over a clean and orderly home than chill out and take a break from work. Repentance isn’t always the opposite of my behavior, however.  Tasks can easily become more important to me than people. Change doesn’t mean that I abandon tasks and instead sabbath all day, everyday. Change is having a soft heart (awareness of God directing my actions and emotions) and know each day, each action, what is the better thing. Change is slow for me, and over time I am beginning to see my work not just tasks, but also relationships. Worshipping Christ in my work is also recognizing the people around me in my life as I work!

Here are some examples of straightforward tasks:

  • Cleaning
  • Cooking
  • Errands
  • Budgeting
  • Shopping
  • Email: calendaring, projects

Here are some examples of relationship moments:

  • Time with God, reading, journaling, praying
  • Dates with the kids
  • Playing with them: toys, sports, boardgames
  • Dates at home or away (full atttention) with spouse
  • Emails that communicate encouragement or affection
  • Out with a friend
  • Phone call
  • Serving someone in need of mercy
  • Urgent prayer in person or on the phone

When do tasks merge into relationships? Can relationships become tasks? Is it OK for me to “accomplish” or be “productive” with a relationship? Can I put relationship time on my “list?” Is it cold to think of a person as a task? Can I do work items with my husband or child and “kill two birds with one stone?” I have done this a lot while talking on the phone while the kids are napping. I will clean like a mad woman while catching up with a friend. Multi-tasking is great! Yet, I miss it if I am more interesting in the task than the person present with me.

Hmm. I think as long as I step forward in repentance to worship God in my work, this is one layer to the journey! As I continue to grow in humility, by God’s grace, I am finding that there is NO FORMULA!  Shoot! Humility and maturity for me right now is growing moment by moment, being led by God, letting go of control, and moment by moment discerning like Mary (in Luke Chapter 10) what the Greater Portion is.

For your own pondering and conversing:

  • In your daily routine, what gets the most attention?
  • What thing that you can’t get to during your day, triggers anger?
  • Do you give some people more heart attention than others, why?
  • What do you avoid?

Posted on 8 January '09 by , under Heart Distractions, home management, Humility, Joyful Work, Productivity.