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There’s a wise saying that goes like this: What you focus on determines what you miss. I find that adage to be especially true on Mondays… primarily because we’ve been accustomed to having it drilled into our brains that Monday is the beginning of something we call a week – or even worse – the start of (a no-doubt long) “work-week.” And each of us knows that the best part of that work week is the end of it! Yes – Friday!! But look where this thinking leaves us today. This is Monday. This is day one. Ugh. (I’m already exhausted and I have the rest of this post to write. What will I do?)
This illusional (delusional?) look at time often causes us to begin our Mondays with an extra and unnecessary weight upon our shoulders. Our blood pressure soars as we carry into this day a greater sense of urgency, feeling the burden of having an impossible load of things that simply must get accomplished ‘or else’ (yet another illusion).
It’s time to get kids up and ready and on the bus for school. For many of us it’s time to re-engage our vocations and enter into this thing called ‘the rat race.’ On and on our Monday ‘to do’ lists run and many of us have yet to even leave the house.
And slowly, steadily, this all-consuming focus on ‘doing’ in next to no time causes us to miss out on the better part of ‘being’ – being in the only moment we will ever have – the present moment. This is one of the reasons I like to approach my days thematically. It helps me be alive to the present, focused on the reality of life rather than my busy story of life.
And so Monday is ‘missional’ Monday – and that’s a good thing!
Since everybody is a little extra stressed on Monday, ministering or gifting to others is a little easier, a bit more necessary and thus a lot more fulfilling – for them and us. The mission is simple: the miracle of who you are is beyond anything you could ever fully know or imagine so you don’t have to ‘do’ anything to accomplish it. You see, just by being aware – present – the mission is already accomplished. This is not an extra task we’re adding to the list.
You are part of the divine. You were birthed from the heart of the Unnamable and propelled into this world to touch every person you meet with a connecting spirit that would leave them with nothing less than deep peace and gratitude.
It’s Monday and others are stressed, but you are focused, calm and disaffected by this illusion of time and its demand you pay homage to the god of urgency. Now who’s on the run? Not you. Myth is running as this manic Monday has been reframed in much more pleasant and empowering ways. The secret has been revealed. Your only mission is to ‘be’… and from this all the stories and agendas of almighty ‘doing’ will just glide into place. Naturally. Joyfully. Easily.
It’s Monday and YOU are the gift for which the world has been waiting. It’s Monday and you own it… it no longer owns you!
Repeat after me: Today, in this present moment, I am a gift to the world. I give to the world deep peace and gratitude.
7 comments to “Missional Monday!”
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Generally speaking, Mondays are my best days but lately I’ve been missing the “present moment” and feeling it. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Nice blog. Great perspective on Mondays. Oddly enuf, I wrote about mission on my blog today.
It’s also the first day of Fall today (not all that consequential, but still interesting).
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Tim, just started reading your blog recently – and I’m glad I came by today. I like to theme my days, but it used to be to get the laundry done – Blues on Monday, Whites on Wednesday, Brights on Saturday – you see, I have four kids. But now that they are doing their own laundry, it’s time to re-theme my days. Thanks for the encouragement – from now on Mondays will be Missional Mondays. Thanks.
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Tim,
Great post. A college friend of mine and I were talking the other day and he came up with a great quote that goes along perfectly with this theme. I tried to beat it out of him as to whom he was quoting but he claimed originality. He said, “Fears about the future and regrets about the past are twin thieves that rob us of the moment.” -
Monday, Monday, can’t trust that day … I’m retired and cannot tell one day from the next except that I recently figured out this pattern: The fat paper comes on Sunday.
Good thoughts, Tim.
Wow, THAT hit home. Now, off to meditate to be centered in this present moment… before I start my “stressful work-week.” Great post, Tim.