Many things in life seem to be sustaining in nature. From servicing the car, to caring for the
yard, doing the dishes or laundry, paying the bills, setting out the trash each week, replacing light bulbs (a systemic issue for 20 years for
us, even with 130v rated bulbs), eating the foods I should (like a rabbit) versus the foods I prefer (which necessarily contain fat, salt, carbs
and taste), being faithful to take the Keppra anticonvulsant twice per day with bi-monthly MRIs, providing transportation services to the
family (which I am glad to do), it all comes down to keeping everything running and in working order.
I try to multitask, work quickly
and efficiently to get as many items on my list completed. I am in a hurry. But sometimes haste makes waste, and I end up doing
things the hard way. Please consider these examples, and laugh with me as I discover the power and prudence of slowing down, planning
and even thinking before acting.
On a tight schedule to get the yard cut, just wanting to get into it and failing to check the oil. Burning up the lawn mower and having to go
get another machine.
Forcing the Christmas Tree up into the attic after the holidays with much pomp and circumstance, then realizing after five years that the
tree resolves into three easily handled and stored subassemblies.
Spending all day removing much of my mom's Mercedes interior trying to find out why the dome light will not turn off, then finding the
on/off switch on the dash console, which was, of course, in the ON position.
Calling Kwik Kar to come to my home post haste to jump start my Taurus when the only issue was my failure to make note of the
ignition key that had become dislodged from its socket under the steering wheel.
Rushing to brush my teeth in the dim moon light of our bathroom so as not to wake up Kathy. The thick, pasty texture was eventually
identified as Desitin®, a diaper rash med.
Tired and unwilling to verify a proper configuration of our electric blanket, going to sleep only to wake up four hours later sweating, with
Kathy an ice cube after numerous thermostat adjustments during the night by both parties.
Pressed for time one work morning, arriving on time, but wearing one black shoe and one brown shoe.
Making dozens of trips to the garage to retrieve tools serially instead of bringing the tool box to the domestic job site.
Taking that first big drink of home-brewed tea at work, soap suds and all. Failure to rinse the container at home - too
busy.
Setting up my drums and stage lighting with due speed for a concert of our band Driftwood, at the Texas A&M Baptist
Student Union. Imagine what can go wrong when food heat lamps are mistakenly substituted for flood lights. We were a hot band that
afternoon, literally. The only time I have ever been sunburned without being in the sun.
Returning home from work when I was in High School in my new 1974 Ford Pinto, puzzled as to why the car was so slugish and lacking in power. I arrived home just ahead of the smoke cloud. I had driven home with the parking brake on.
Racing off to the clinic for a three hour wait to see a doctor, when I could have just registered on the website and tarried at home until their notification call of an appointment availability; for me to be at the clinic within 30 minutes.
You probably have examples of doing things the hard way. In fact, many people try to commend themselves to God for eternity based upon their good deeds, or just being a good person, or not being too much of a bad person. This is not only doing it the hard way, it is doing it the no way. There is only one way to get it done, so for heaven's sake, please check it out.
