Today is the Feast of the Assumption, and in the Gospel readings for Mass, we hear again the beautiful words of the Magnificat! The ones that often especially resonate with me are when Mary goes “in haste” to visit Elizabeth. Often I’m stopped by the words “immediately,” too – words that are pregnant with the importance of the task at hand.
In contrast to this of course is “procrastination.” Putting it off, mañana, I’ll get “around to it,” later…. I remember my mom telling me her Dad often scolded her for procrastination. I also remember buying a book on how to overcome procrastination, but I never got around to reading it! That speaks volumes in itself. (No pun intended 🙂 My mom’s Motto in her later years was D.I.N. DIN = Do It Now! Don’t put it off; if it needs to be done, get at it right now!
I started googling “procrastination” and was challenged by the many negative consequences listed as the result of procrastination. Missed opportunities, the thief of time, and the verse from James, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” (James 4:17). This is not doing it at all, and not just being late in acting. But indeed, when I’m slow to do what I need to do, it sometimes falls through the cracks and never gets done at all; it has become a sin of omission, that could have been a blessing for someone!
Of course I started writing this two weeks ago, and then got derailed by whatever. So TODAY I determined to at least plop a few thoughts on the paper, and pray that by so doing I may begin again to fight against my tendency toward delay.
I’m thinking my snooze button may be one of the options I need to dispose of, as it definitely leads to that dreaded “p” word! And I’ll find some good Scripture verses to use as weapons in the battle, for I find it indeed to be a battle! And I’ll hop ahead and post this NOW, pray for Mary and my Guardian Angel’s help, and return to this in a few weeks to see how it’s going.
A word of encouragement the Lord just gave me is the reminder that my mom overcame her own struggle with procrastination, and gave me that acronym DIN. Thanks, mom! Help me to put that into practice, now!
Lord God, You know how much of my life has been plagued by procrastination. I understand how hard it can be to change something that has been a habit for so long. I come to You now, knowing that of myself I can do nothing, but with your grace, all things are possible! I bring this to You now, out in the open, and beg Your help to act with promptitude as Mary did. Be it done unto me, according to Thy Word…
Spiritual Sun Pennies 