The content of my weekly blogs is drawn primarily from biblical wisdom, while the 2020 format was inspired by James Clear’s “3-2-1” Thursdays. Building from my recent book UNBEATABLE! Seven Pillars of Personal Excellence, each blog will contain One Pillar/Proverb, One Principle and One Practical.
One Pillar
“Busyness kills the heart”-Mark Buchanan, author
One Principle
One of the most challenging and perhaps frustrating aspects of the coronavirus has been the inability of medical professionals to contain its spread. The invisible nature of the virus and the fact that we just don’t know whether we are transferring it from one person to another makes it one of the toughest battles the human race has had to face in decades, maybe even centuries.
Reflecting on this idea of not been able to properly detect the root of an illness and follow its movement reminds me of Buchanan’s quote above. Busyness is indeed a killer of the heart and if we are not intentional about eliminating it, irreparable damage can be caused to our inner self.
Consider the words of Old Testament prophet Zechariah when he said: “Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.” The admonition here was for human stillness in the face of divine holiness. It’s hard to be still when we’re so busy. In spite of the many tragedies caused by COVID-19, one good outcome was that we were all compelled to slow down our pace. Some of us re-connected with our families, got more rest, became more creative at home and, significantly, even sought to improve our spiritual lives. Our challenge now, though, is to resist the temptation to overpack our schedules as more and more countries reopen and we adjust to the new normal, whatever that eventually looks like. Busyness is a silent killer. Let’s be alert to its genuine threat. Make the practice of stillness part of your new normal. Ironically, it is likely to improve your productivity.
One Practical
Carve out and protect in your daily routine a time of quiet stillness. This may mean switching off the radio, telephone or tablet for 5-10 minutes or it may mean waking up before the rest of your household. You can do it.
To learn more about these pillars of personal excellence, read UNBEATABLE! which is now available on Amazon in print and as an e-book.
