I’m Thinking

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication make your requests known to God.  Philippians 4:6

I have a terrible habit of thinking a problem or a decision to death – overthinking it.  I wonder what would be a better way, will my way work, what will happen if it doesn’t work, should I suggest this, should I wait, should I say what I really feel, and on and on it goes.  While I am over thinker, Randy acts.

Years ago when we were moving our daughter into her first dorm room at Ole Miss, there was an occasion to illustrate what happens when we take too much time to think through a problem, a situation, commitment or spiritual growth.

Ashley and her roommate, Carrie, had purchased a loft for their dorm room from a couple of girls who were moving to an apartment.  The purchase was a great idea in theory, but the loft was made to fit a room in another dorm, so after we hauled it through town on the back of a truck,  moved it up three flights of stairs, and put it together, realization set in.  The lofts didn’t fit.  We could squeeze them in, but the person on the top bunk couldn’t raise their head without hitting the ceiling.

We pondered what to do while frustration mounted.  The girls laid on the bunks, tried the top, and generally continued thinking. We were running out of time, and the two dads were getting just a bit impatient to say the least.  It was obvious to all that it wasn’t going to work.  It was too late to sell them or harvest parts, so, rather than waste anymore time thinking, Randy opened the window, saw a dumpster below, sent the girls down to make sure no one was in the way and began to throw the lofts piece by piece out the window!  Problem solved!  No more thinking needed.

There comes a point when you say “enough is enough” and take action.  Whether it be a commitment, a decision, or just a destination – you can’t overthink everything.  William A. Lawrence said it best, “On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of millions who, at the dawn of victory, sat down to wait and think, and while waiting – died.  When is comes to making a decision, our greatest adversary is inertia.  We need to take action.”