"Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41 - 42
(These next several devotions will be part of our conversation at the retreat, but not everyone can go, so we can share and prepare in advance.)
Which is more important? Leadership or management? I wrestle with this from time to time because of my former role in education leadership. I'm not alone though because I know for a fact the military wrestles with this as well. None other than one General (then later President) Dwight D. Eisenhower left us a management tool that to this day still bears his name: The Eisenhower Matrix. It's divided into four quadrants. Across the top it says "Urgent" over one quadrant, and "Not Urgent" over the one to its right. Then on the descending left side of it at the side of it reads "Important," and the one below it is "Not Important." (Like me and need to see these things? A link is at the bottom of the email to a site that explains it fully.)
Martha, the subject of the occasion, finds herself worked into a frenzy. She is in the "Urgent" and "Important" quadrant (Q1). This is not a good place to be. Eisenhower realized that being in the Army and leading the Army in Europe could mean everything is urgent and important all at once (generally crisis management 24/7). The problem is that requires too much energy because much of what some people think is urgent and important is really a crisis caused by poor planning. General Eisenhower knew that to be effective, he needed to focus on "Important, Not Urgent." Strategy, reflection, sharing leadership thoughts, teaching, and planning can go into that quadrant two (Q2). It's important, not urgent.
Mary is at the feet of Q2: Christ. Christ all but tells an exasperated Martha that when she interrupts his teaching and presence by protesting Mary's lack of help. "Mary has chosen the good portion."
I realized in administration that if I was going to lead, I had to manage effectively. So when a mentor of mine showed me this and a corresponding folder system, I went back and implemented it immediately. Want something signed? It goes in the "Signature" folder. Why? Because if I signed based on employee need, that is all I would do because people arrive a decisions independently and bring things to you individually. The staff soon learned I review and sign every day during lunch. Get it in before noon. (There were two other folders, but save that for another day.)
Why is this important? Because one area of focus for all of us is "Reflection." How and when do I give myself time to reflect? Where am I and how am I doing in my four pillars in life - faith, family, learning and giving/sharing. What are your "big areas" in your life that drive your activity? How much time do you give them in reflection daily, weekly, monthly and yearly? It's important, as Christ notes, and if it can make the difference in winning and losing a war, think about what it can do with your life.
How and when do we reflect on God's Word and will in our lives? How do we become men of action, not activity?
Pray to God for time to reflect on what is important in our lives as He sees it and pray for the ability to act when we begin seeing these things more clearly.
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