Start Small, Start Today

Jordan Peterson says that if you want to change the world, you need to start by cleaning your room. Elisabeth Elliot tells us we just need to do the next thing. If we’re asking ourselves how to serve God, how to live our lives, she makes it very simple; if you are a student, you study. Why would we look to the future and wonder what grand things we’re going to do for God, for the world, or for ourselves, if we can’t even take responsibility for the small things we need to do today?

I personally love organising. I love planning for tomorrow and being motivated by new recipes, to-do lists, and work out routines. While this isn’t inherently a bad thing, laziness can sneak into this way of thinking; “you would rather become good tomorrow than be good today” (Marcus Aurelius). It is easier to delegate responsibility to my future self than to my present self; it becomes tomorrow’s problem rather than today’s.

In the last couple of years, it has been more pressing on my mind as to what I am meant to do with my life. I have a full-time job that does not relate to writing (which I studied for), though I believe that studying for my degree was the right thing to do. I walk a balance between writing in my spare time but also ensuring I have the energy and focus to do my job well during the week.

I was convicted by Elisabeth Elliot’s sentiments at the start of the year, as I was halfway through another course (a Certificate for work) but was struggling with the course coordinators and feeling like I needed to be doing something more “noble” with my time. But I had the realisation that I was committed to this study, and not just for myself but for my work place. The reality was that I had to focus on it, even though that meant less time on other endeavours. It was what my current self had to do.

On Friday my final assessment was marked and passed, which means I have officially completed the certificate. Interestingly enough, on Monday (tomorrow), I begin a new role in the company I work for. The next thing. Faithfully completing what we must each day instead of looking ahead for something more grand.

So where does writing fit in with my life now? Where it always has; outside of work hours. That’s my reality, and that’s okay. How can I say God’s plans are wrong? Two years ago I would not have chosen to study again, nor would I have thought a promotion would be on the horizon. I believe this is where God wants me. And I believe I was faithful with the smaller things (like my study, which I wanted to give up on) and now new opportunities have presented themselves.

It was easier to look to the future and see myself finished with study, or having written a novel, than to sit down at my desk and actually write an assessment or work on a story. These are things that take time. They are not immediately rewarded but are investments into something you can’t see yet.

Even though we would rather be good tomorrow than be good today, we need to try.

Sarah xx