synchronising

The bulk of the day's been spent in a sort of not so 'glorious isolation'.

A whole lot of admin needing a bit of attention. And a whole load of urgent preparation, too.

I don't really like being stuck behind a desk for the larger part of a day, but that's the way it's sometimes got to be. Letters needing written. E-mails to be sent. A lesson for the the school to be prepared.

And technology playing up! Yes, that sort of day.

Technology's great when it's working well: but when it's not, well ... It's a right old pain!

It's Microsoft Windows that we use here: and the school, they use Apple Macs. Usually that's about OK, their computers can cope with material created on Windows. They've tried to make the two compatible. Able to be synchronised.

A little bit dodgy, sometimes, but usually it works OK.

But then we've just upgraded here, and I don't think now the school computers can cope. At least they didn't last week. Not at all.

So I'm preparing material here today for a powerpoint presentation at the school: and I'm using the newer 2007 version of Windows, then having to save it as a rather different sort of file. I'm trying to do the synchronising as I go along.

Boy, technology's sometimes a pain! A whole load easier simply to do without (when it's playing up like this!).

But I only reached that conclusion after preparing the file first of all. Which took a bit of time! And then I had to send it off by e-mail to the school to see what they could do before tomorrow's session starts!

Hence the measure of pressure today!

I enjoy the work involved, of course. I mean, figuring out the content of just what I want to say.

The challenge excites me. As does the opportunity these sessions with the Primary 6s bring.

Tomorrow's class is on the life of Jesus.

The challenge is two-fold. First, to identify in broad brush strokes the over-arching features of that three year, history-changing ministry: and then to put it all in terms a P6 child will somehow understand!

So a large part of my day today was spent addressing these two weighty challenges.

Thinking it through, working it out, and getting it down: then typing up and printing off a set of four-page work-sheets for some sixty P6 children: and rounding it off by designing and creating a powerpoint presentation to go with it all.

And that's before the early preparation for the usual midweek service which we have here on a Wednesday over lunch: and the early preparation for the coming Sunday services again: and finding an organist to play at the service of thanksgiving here on Friday in the middle of the day.

And, hey, it's December! And all of a sudden the pace of life can markedly increase!

But I refuse point blank to be rushed! Which means a certain ruthlessness in terms of my priorities.

Like, what are the things I really need to do? What are the real priorities? Because I know I can't do everything I'd like. And that's before I even start to contemplate the things that others here would like me to be doing all the time!

This season of the year is meant to be enjoyed and not just stoically endured!

And that means making time and room for God. Letting Jesus do the setting of agendas day by day. Giving him the time and space to do his thing. Saying 'No' as well as 'Yes'.

And just being where he wants me every day.

Synchronising. Matching my time with his. I think that's the key to life!