Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday April 19, 2011

When I was growing up a complimentary phrase was, "He/she is a jack of all trades, master of none" meaning the person was reasonably proficient at a number of trades. A "jack" could do things well enough to get by, or so it was thought.

Most people who fit the above description got by, somehow. We even went to doctors who were called "General Practitioners." These last dinosaurs even made house calls. If any of these creatures are extant, I am not aware it. In order to get an old fashioned physical you have visit at least five specialists and even then, depending how large five boat payments may be, you may need to help one or more of the specialist earn even more in referral fees.

Truth be known we do live in the age of the specialist. Each area of expertise is dividing into ever shrinking segments so much so that one of my doctors specializes in the upper part of the lower region of my left nostril. He is good, but had no idea of how to arrest a running nose.

In our zeal to be outstanding servants of Christ we were and are taught from the scriptures that specialization is the only way to maximize our efforts to accomplish the most for the Lord. Paul talked about this and Christ demonstrated the principle.

Igor Stravinsky, composer extraordinaire, made this statement in his book, Poetics of Music:

"My freedom thus consists in my moving about within a narrow frame that I have assigned myself. My freedom will be so much the greater and more meaningful, the narrower I limit my field of action. Whatever diminishes constraint, diminishes strength. The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself of the chains that shackle the spirit."

Constraint entails the willingness, the courage to say, No. Failure to learn and implement this simple production increasing word has ruined many a career, ministry and life. Most people spend at least 90% of their allotted time doing this, that and the other that really has nothing to do with the work or calling they think is the work God has called them to accomplish during their life on earth. But at least they are busy.

I love Stravinsky's “The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself of the chains that shackle the spirit."

Paul put it like this in Philippians 3:13:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with credit

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