To-dos, Common Sense, and the Spirit

I unlock the door to my office at 9:00 a.m. and turn on my laptop. And there it is: my multi-color-coded calendar and the “to-do-list” for the day that was aggregated by my “oh so smart” computer (yes, it even parses Greek verbs for me!). My list is compiled of contacts that need to be made, appointments to attend, and tasks to accomplish across a whole spectrum of responsibilities. I am sure it is very similar to those lists of you who read this blog now: personal contacts, meetings, and things to produce. Oh how it easy it is to fill a day! And thanks be to God for a computer that helps me sort all of this out.

I find that in the midst of such busyness I often need to be reminded that the Spirit is active and present in the “all of life.” This is not extraordinary. It just is. I believe the Spirit is present in the most ordinary, mundane things of the day. God is active and present in our many phone calls, meetings, visitations, and yes, our filling out expense and budget reports.

Much of the Spirit’s direction is found in everyday, ordinary stuff. A lot of co-operating and participating with the Spirit’s movement is just following through with a daily schedule and keep up with the common sense practices of pastoral practice. I don’t agonize about the Spirit’s direction when a report needs filling out or a deadline needs to be met. I don’t need to pray for leading concerning a visitation that needs to be made. My schedule might get a little out of whack and I need to adjust a few things to make it happen. But, it is common sense, if someone needs a visit; I just go and do it.

I’ve found that a lot of the Spirit’s presence is found in common sense. Morning prayer is a mater of common sense. For me, Tuesday morning writing time (my best thinking and reflecting time) is just common sense. Not much administration is going to get done for me on Tuesday mornings. That is when I am most connected creatively with the Spirit’s stirrings in me over Scripture and the life of the world, so that is when I write. Planned and protected (that is key…protect it with all you have!) reading and writing time is just common sense. Connecting with key leaders in life-giving, affirming and forward moving ways, is just common sense. Taking time off to walk in the woods and listen to good music is just common sense.

These regular scheduled, mundane events are where the Spirit is active in life. My spiritual director once told me, “Jason, the spiritual life is not out there in some ideal setting, some monastery, some ‘perfect nest’ you have feathered for yourself. The life of the Spirit it is right in the midst of your frustration with your kids, stresses with your wife, trying to write sermons, and make all your calls and visits.” And, now that I have a few more years under my belt since he gave me this direction, I see just how right Fr. Ed was. Very often the Spirit leads us through common sense of just doing what the “to-do-list” tells us what to do. Common sense things to do: that is where the Spirit is at work.  And, thanks be to God, it is that same Spirit that gives us the power to accomplish all that God has given us to do for God’s purposes!