I have been working with a book by David Allen called ‘Getting Things DONE - The Art of Stress-Free Productivity’. It was recommended by the 43 Folders podcast. I have been struggling with organization,… well, frankly my whole life. I was intrigued by the idea of a comprehensive system that would allow me to unclutter my mind and actually get things done without worrying about everything all the time.

I have been working with the book and slowly implementing the system. One of the things it had me do was to list all of the things I have been holding in my mind as things I need to do, hope to do, expect to do, or whatever. I have been doing that and have four typewritten pages of ’stuff’.

It seems a bit ironic to me that as I have been working on the process I have not been able to get as much of my day-to-day stuff done (like posting to the blog). I have, however, gotten a few of the things that have been hanging over my head for the past month. That felt good.

As I look at the four page list, however, I have been feeling overwhelmed. I have decided which actions need to be taken, but it is daunting none-the-less.

One of the things I have had on my list was to send to one of my clients a prayer I came across many years ago. It is one of those prayers that always touches me. It always means something different to me at different stages of my life. I wanted to share it with you:

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton, “Thoughts in Solitude”