I'm Gaining "Wait"

I love to be spontaneous. You could tell me, "Hey Ben, we're going on a 50 mile bike ride a few minutes--want to come?" and I would beat you to the bikes. There's just something exciting about making things up as I go along. in fact, I enjoy doing new things much more than doing the same ones that I have done in the past.

Since I love being spontaneous, it's hard for me to hear the word "wait". In my mind, if something is good, I should do it as soon as possible. However, when working with other people in a ministry setting, it's hard to be spontaneous when it affects others, so a slower approach to change is usually more well-received. I've done a lot more waiting recently, mainly because my organization just isn't ready yet for some of the ideas I've had. But don't think that I'm just waiting. Oh no. While I wait I do three other things:

1. Wait and see. Sometimes an idea seems good at first, but over time it becomes clear that a different direction would be better.

2. Wait and plan. Many people would like to say they've climbed Mount Everest, but without a good plan for training and getting there, it's never going to happen.

3. Wait and communicate. Once I see that an idea would in fact be a good one, and once I have a reasonable plan of how to make it happen, it's important to start talking it up. Some people will quickly embrace it, but others will need more time. Many people will have legitimate concerns or they may have great suggestions for improving the idea. Unless I communicate the idea to several people, there is no way for me to get this feedback.

I was challenged by a quote I read by Earl Nightingale: "Don't let the fear of the time it takes to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." There is no need to just sit around waiting; redeem the time!