Praying On and Pressing On in a Slow Burn

[Dan Crawford]

If I took time to list all the medical/dental issues I’ve had in the past two years, readers would get depressed and I’d go beyond my intent to share a one paragraph spiritual jump-start. Needless to say, it’s good that I retired so I’d have time for all my medical/dental appointments. The problem is I keep getting invitations to speak/teach/consult/mentor and the medical/dental issues sometimes cause me to have to cancel my engagements, and I hate cancellations. I need to remember some advice from an early colleague who said when unwanted or impractical invitations come, open your calendar in front of you, cover both eyes, and say, “I don’t see any way that I can accept your gracious invitation.” But that is incredibly difficult for me to do, having been raised and mentored by workaholics with a degree of perfectionism mixed in. I confess I need help with this – when and how to say “no” especially when everything in my calling says, “say yes.” Research is mixed on who first said, “I rather burn out than rust out” but I confess to be on a rather slow burn, struggling with Paul’s advice, “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame” (Romans 12:11, MSG). So I will pray on and press on slowly– in between medical/dental appointments. In the words of Robert Frost, “I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”