I have been working on a project for over two years. Obviously, well maybe not that obviously, I have not been working constantly. The opportunity to set-up my shop is something I want to accomplish. There is hesitancy in writing about the project because I know I have to face the reality of something still not finished! There are reasons for the delay that are more than excuses.
Life is full of competing demands. Work, commitments, and distractions combine to pull me away from something I know I enjoy and want to do. I know this is part of story yet I do not think it is the core.
Working with a team is always more fun than working alone. It is not an original comment, however my experience strongly reinforces its truth. It is more fun doing things with others than doing the project alone.
At the core, I find that I often struggle with the confidence to take on a complex project by myself. I know it is a process. Yet, walking into the unknown is far more daunting than I care to admit. At times, I lack the confidence within.
As I read the story of other’s journeys, I find myself in interesting company. When there is a solid invitation and others sharing the load, everything changes. When Paul had a firm sense of the process and goal, his energy level picked up! “We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.” (Acts 16.10)
I find myself looking into the shop, I find myself metaphorically looking at everything that is a work in progress. The key is confidence and a sense of purpose. With this, everything becomes one small step followed by another. Do I actually believe compassion is the key? If so, then I have one choice of compassion at a time to make.
Today, I start by walking out into the shop.