Every so often, I tell Nancy that I’m going to work ahead on my writing for 300wordsaday.com. I think, “I’ve got to work ahead, lay out a schedule.” It almost never happens.
From time to time I can write two or three of these at a time. Usually? The night before I hit publish.
I’ve wondered about this “lack of discipline.” I’ve thought, “If I could be more committed, I’d be able to get more done.”
Sunday morning I was preparing for a class. In the course of the reflection, I realized that I may never be able to work more than a day or two ahead here.
I thought about manna, the food that God provided for the people of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness for forty years. Every day, God gave them manna. Except for Saturday. He didn’t give any on Saturday. But that’s because they could gather twice as much on Friday.
I thought about Jesus talking about birds and flowers. And worrying. He talks about how God provides for birds and flowers and says,
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
And I thought about the process of following.
We want to grow fast to maturity, to arrive quickly at the destination. We want to put plans in place so we can, I fear sometimes, trust in our plans.
I’m all for working ahead when it can happen. I’m all for goals and planning and details. (I’m often not very good at them, as my family and coworkers will tell you, but I’m all for them).
However, I’m guessing that all of us have places in our lives where the must be faith daily. This is one of mine.
What’s yours?
300 words a day 
Amy
I am a planner. More often than not, though, something changes and therefore so must my plan. I’m with you here; taking it day by day isn’t always the worst. Sometimes it actually works out in my favor. That makes me have faith that it will again.
The birds and the flowers… this might explain why so many of us love to watch the birds and the flowers. It’s a comfort.
Thanks, Jon.
-Amy
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Diane Brogan
Making the best of today may work out better than worrying about tomorrow. Thanks for pointing that out.
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Rich Dixon
I totally agree–almost.
For me, “day-to-day” tends to become an excuse for procrastination and not making good use of time. As a teacher I learned that my best strategy was having a ton of resources, ideas and material–much more than I could ever use. Then the daily planning became a selection based on the needs of the moment instead of a scramble for something to fill the space.
On my best days, that’s sort of how my writing works. And then there are most days, when I’m grateful for the manna …
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Jon Swanson
hmmm. What if it is day-by-day?
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Rich Dixon
Ultimately, it is day-by-day. My problem creeps in when I use that as an excuse. If you preach next Sunday, it might be a bit irresponsible to avoid thinking about the sermon until Sunday morning, expecting God to provide the words.
God provided manna for specific people at a specific time to teach a specific lesson. I don’t think He wants me to sit on the patio and wait for bread to fall in my yard. As someone said, “God provides food for the birds. However, He doesn’t toss it into their nests.”
Perhaps part of today’s pur[ose is thinking, reflecting, letting ideas percolate in preparation for what He says tomorrow?
Question: does preparing for tomorrow mean I’m not trusting in God’s daily provision? Is there a difference between planning and preparing? Between planning and worshipping my plans?
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Crystal Cha
“We want to grow fast to maturity, to arrive quickly at the destination. We want to put plans in place so we can, I fear sometimes, trust in our plans.” I totally identify. I am the same way as well. I tend to live so much for the future that I forget the present. I try to work ahead all the time but sometimes my best ideas come when I’m focused on the task at hand, in the NOW. Thanks for putting this into words so well!
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Jon Swanson
Here’s what’s funny. I started reading what you were quoting and thought, “who wrote that?” I couldn’t remember writing them…less than a week ago. There is great value in stopping running.
Thanks for the reminder.
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