March 30, 2022
What would you do if you could do anything you wanted and you’d be guaranteed success? I asked myself that years ago in a workshop at my church. My answer was, become a minister in the very church in which I was attending the self-help workshop. The interesting thing about my answer was that being disorganized was standing in the way of that dream and I knew I needed to clean up my act before I could ever help others to clean up theirs.
My disorder colored everything in my life with an ugly grey that clouded my joy. It affected my finances, my relationship with my kids and husband, my health, my friendships and my spiritual life. Why couldn’t my answer to my question have been; get organized? I’ll tell you why, getting organized didn’t sound fun! Becoming a minister sounded fun to me. I remember a friend of mine asking me why I wanted to be a minister.
Me: “Hmmm, well, I know what I don’t want to do as a minister.”
Friend: “Like what?”
Me: “I don’t want anyone calling me at home, interrupting me with some personal problem.”
Friend: “Isn’t that what happens with a congregation?”
Me: “I guess, but I’ll get an unlisted number.” (This was way before cell phones.)
Friend: “What else don’t you want to do as a minister?”
Me: “I don’t want to do christenings, funeral services, or weddings. They’re all too formal.”
Friend: “Wow, what’s left that you want to do?”
Me: “Uhh, I want my sermons to be lighthearted, upbeat and funny. I want to be like a spiritual standup comic and after the service I want the people to line up to shake my hand and rave about how happy they are because of my message and how wonderful I am to write such great material.”
Friend (who became a minister): “Hmm, I wonder if becoming a minister is the line of work for you. Maybe you should just look at being a stand-up comic who loves God, and needs to get organized.” (My friend was a B.O. and knew I struggled with disorganization.)
Thinking back on our conversation so many years ago and looking at what I actually did with my life, I realize that God was in my answer. I just didn’t have the perspective our Creator had back then. Little did I know that “getting organized” would ultimately be the subject of my “sermons” and subsequent mission in life to help people get organized to be happier.
The Dalai Lama said: “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from our own actions.”
On June 16, 1977 I made the decision to get organized. I’ve always seen God as having a satellite perspective on our lives and so throughout all these years, (when I’ve remembered) I’ve let God run the show. My prayer is that all who come across my path as a writer will be reminded that God IS running the show and if we let God take the driver’s seat we can sit back and enjoy the ride.
If disorganization is standing in your way of success, let God take over. I Googled, "Is God organized?" This is what answer came up: Corinthians 14:33 tells us that our God is a god of peace and not disorder. Being organized will bring calmness and peace into our families. Luke 14:28-30 discusses the process for taking on a project, showing that we must first know what we have and what we need to complete a project.
We each have everything it takes to be organized and it's just a matter of claiming our power (backed by God) and step-by-step completing any project we face. This book will be a good place to start.