Deep into Lent, with so many demands, we are trying to live according to this quote, by Gerald May:
Try a little consecrated Zen.
Do one thing at a time, with complete, immediate mindfulness.
Don’t do it to get it done so you can get on to the next thing.
Do it for love.
Do it fully, sensitively, openly.
Do it now.
Then do the next thing.
Some of you have seen this before. And, of course, this way of doing is not exclusive to Zen Buddhism. In the Christian Tradition, instead of “mindfulness,” it’s called “being present.” It’s been a Christian practice since the earliest centuries. (It’s understandable if Christians do not know that about their Tradition. The church has done a terrible job of teaching it.)
Doing one thing at a time is countercultural. It is difficult. It takes tremendous discipline.
Sometimes, I am interrupted by something more important than what I am working on. But then I finish the “interruption” before returning to the previous task.
But do you know what I find? It turns out that I am much more productive, when I do one thing at a time. The day ends and I have finished what I have been able to get to. (That is so much better than coming to the end of the day and having a desk service covered by many things that I’ve started, been distracted from, and never finished.)
