The old saying, ”When you're up to your tailbone in alligators, it's difficult to remember that the objective was to drain the swamp." Or, you are trying to catch the meal from slipping off the plate while you are juggling 10 other plates. Have you felt that way? Me too!

What do you do when one of those plates is your organization's retirement plan and you are the plan administrator? Do you add it to your “to do” list? Call Envoy and ask for help? Or just forget it? There are some priorities that must be done. Some priorities are short term, and some are long term.

An example of a long term one that can’t be dropped is the growing of your Future Funded Ministry... Ensuring a lifetime of service. This is one priority that perhaps for you, and certainly many of your plan participants gets short shrift, until the time is upon them. Engagement brings a future reward, and a present one too.

Some of our priorities are just plain work and we need to check them off the list when completed; with a sigh I might add. Others bring a sense of relief that they are done. And some put a smile on our face with the knowledge that it was “a job well done." Of course that is the accolade we all desire to hear just after the end of our life.

Perspective, focus, keeping our eye on the ball and knowing which ball to keep our eye on are the key deliverables of wisdom applied. Those of us who spend time delivering messages of hope and inspiration to others often find it difficult to maintain that hope during our own moments of challenge. Keeping perspective is hard. Thank goodness we have the wisdom and support of our God to provide what we do not have in our own strength.

I am having one of those times of challenge now. Perspective, focus, priority, wisdom, energy, health and perseverance are all high on my prayer list. In what season are you?

This morning I was led to the following passage in Psalms. It brought perspective to me. Perhaps it will help you too.

“Psalm 16:6-11 (NIV) The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. [7] I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. [8] I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. [9] Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, [10] because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. [11] You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Let me know your thoughts and comments. Our dialogue continues.

Living with Trusted Advice together,

Bruce

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