As a teenager there were countless times I felt as if I was backsliding. In other words, there was something I knew I should do, I committed to doing it, and then 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 1 hour later I found myself not doing what I thought I should do. (See Romans 7:15)
Those “backsliding” moments were so frustrating as a young person. I felt as if it was impossible to get it RIGHT for any length of time. Every time there was a chance for recommitment, I thought to myself, why would I do that, I will just mess up again.
As you grow older and mature in the faith, you begin to realize that with every recommitment, you don’t start at zero. You are actually stronger than you were before. You also realize that it wasn’t so much backsliding as it was the process of becoming.
All of that as a backdrop to write about the same cycle that I feel like I am going in my quest for a great productivity system. Instead of calling it backsliding, it is more commonly known as falling off the wagon. Basically, when I feel like I have put in a good system for making sure I am productive in life and ministry and then 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, or 1 hour later I have found myself not doing what I wanted to be doing.
This is where that important lesson that I had to learn in my late teens and early 20’s comes in handy. As frustrating as it can be to come up short, I have to be ready to answer the productivity altar call and get back on the wagon. That is one of the strengths of the “Getting Things Done” system, the ability to pick up right where you left off.
So if you are struggling with your walk with God or your productivity system, don’t let your recent mess up stop you from going at it again, and know that you are further along than you were the last time.
