Devotions for a Busy Business Person, no. 323 – Two Birds with One Stone 

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Throughout my career, I have often tried to prove the old saying, “Kill two birds with one stone.”

When I attempt this, however, I generally miss both birds.

Just today, I was trying to juggle attending the funeral of a dear friend’s mother and catching a flight immediately afterward. The timing would likely have required me to leave the funeral before it ended so that I could reach the airport on time.

It took the gracious insistence of my friend, together with the wise counsel of Terri, my wife, to convince me that trying to do both was a bad idea.

I realized that I was trying to kill two birds with one stone—again.

And here is why I would probably have missed both.

At the funeral, I would not have been fully present to celebrate the life of a remarkable woman or support my grieving friend. Instead, I would have been anxiously checking the time and wondering when I should text for an Uber.

At the airport, I would have been rushing to catch the plane, with no margin for traffic, delays, long security lines, or anything else that might go wrong.

In trying to be in two places, my mind would have been fully present in neither.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you. Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established. Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.” — Proverbs 4:25–27

There is wisdom in looking straight ahead and paying attention to the path immediately before us. That does not mean we should never pursue several goals or manage several responsibilities. Business leadership often requires us to do exactly that. But there is a difference between managing several responsibilities wisely and pretending we can give our full attention to several important things simultaneously.

What we fix our attention upon shapes how we respond. When our attention is scattered, our thoughts, emotions, and decisions can become scattered as well. We may be physically present with one person while mentally racing toward the next appointment.

The problem is not merely an overcrowded calendar. It can become a divided mind.

“He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” – James 1:8

I had already committed to attending the funeral, but eventually I recognized that my hurried presence would not serve either my friend or me well. I could attend anxiously and leave partway through, or I could admit that my plans no longer worked and renegotiate the commitment honestly.

One of the things I have learned from my friend Chip Wilson is that when circumstances require you to change a commitment, renegotiate immediately.

So I phoned my friend and told her that I would not be able to attend the funeral. She was most gracious. In fact, she had recognized the conflict long before I did.

Renegotiating a commitment is not the same as casually abandoning it. It means speaking promptly and honestly with the person affected, taking responsibility for the change, and giving them as much opportunity as possible to adjust.

I still have much to learn about creating margin, setting priorities, and focusing on one bird at a time.

But I am getting better.

Prayer

Lord,
Thank You that You are a God of provision. Before I knew my need, You had already made a way. Help me to trust that what You have called me to do, You have also equipped me to accomplish.

Amen