Doug Fields heartfelt plea from one youth pastor to another, What Matters Most: When No is Better than Yes (Youth Specialties 2006), was a great read for me in January 2007. I remember finishing the book poolside in California, opening up my journal and outlining some new guidelines I was going to live by when it came to my commitments and priorities. It was a catalyst in my crusade against busyness.
Here's some of Doug's great thoughts on WHY SAYING NO IS SO TOUGH:
The more I speak with youth workers, the more convinced I am that those of us called to serve others find it very difficult (if not impossible) to say no to people and opportunities.
When you reread that, you may protest: "I can say no to some things!" Well, of course you can say no- to easy stuff. It's effortless to no to people or opportunities you don't like. If you asked me to volunteer in the church nursery, I'd quickly say, "No." If you offered me an invitation to eat a nasty lima bean-velveeta cheese-cashew-hello salad, first I'd gag; then I'd roll my eyes and say, "No." If you invited me to your house to read the book of Job in Hebrew, I'd say, Thanks, but no."
What isn't so easy is saying no to the many, many good things that come your way in ministry.
If you struggle with aying no and busyness is affecting you, there isn't an easy way to conquer it. You can't simply slip out of a lifestyle of busyness by making some subtle changes. It won't work! I've tried to do it subtly , but be subtle doesn't communicate the required amount of conviction to do it the right way. I'm not the only one. I know of many others who've also tired to casually change, but it doesn't work that way.
To change, you must declare war on busyness - go public, ask for help, and invite others into your journey to change.
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