The ‘To Do’ List

On Sunday I wrote my weekly ‘to do’ list – jobs to do, messages to send, people to see. I’ve just checked on my progress There’s twenty-nine items, four are completed.

In many ways it’s a crazy system. I’ve done other things that weren’t on the list; I know I won’t complete all of the tasks – several have been on my list for a number of weeks. My list reminds me of what I have achieved; it also reminds me what I have failed to achieve.

Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. Churches around the world celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit. We did at our church…

For three years Jesus’ disciples had been with Him. He’d created their ‘to do’ lists, giving them tasks to do, places to go, people to see.

Jesus had died, come back to life and ascended into heaven. The disciples were fearful, confused, uncertain what should be on their ‘to do’ list.

Then the Holy Spirit came. They remembered the ‘to do’ list that Jesus had already given them and were empowered to carry it out… to preach the gospel…. go and make disciples… love God and love their neighbour… eat bread and drink wine together…

Pentecost also showed how tasks were to be done – with an energetic enthusiasm, a determined resilience, an all-embracing commitment. St Paul gave us a Holy Spirit ‘to be’ list: ‘ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’

I shall continue to work through my ‘to do’ list this week. Some tasks will be completed; I like ticking off tasks when they’re done. Some tasks won’t be done, and may be transferred to next week’s ‘to do’ list.

Perhaps more important is the list that describes the sort of person I am as I carry out my tasks. My ‘to be’ list– loving, joyful, peace-making, patient… won’t be ticked off as completed this week or next, but will continue to be my priority.