Doing what I should do not what I should do

Have you ever wondered what you should be doing? Today I went out with our wonderful Community Care volunteers. Community Care is our Nursing home visitation program, and I put today's visit into my schedule a couple of weeks ago, my first venture with this group for 2 - 3 months. As I looked at my schedule I wondered if I really needed to go as the paperwork on my desk isn't going away and the e-mails haven't yet stopped coming. I kept my commitment however, and conducted two meetings at Hughes' Nursing Home.

Once I finished, I had a true sense of a morning well spent. The folk at Hughes' were very receptive and I had spoken about my Savior. What could be more important than that? Then, in tonight's prayer meeting, one of our ladies gave a praise report on the good morning we had and the kind words that were uttered by several of the residents. I agreed...a morning well spent.

Now here is the conundrum...is the pushing of paper more important, or the personal contact with people. This conundrum is made no simpler by my Headquarters who send me to all kinds of mandatory conferences and tell me that my priority is pastoral care and preaching while demanding timeliness with my reports and expect me to be in my office most of the time.

This is by no means a knock on my headquarters as much as a reminder of what is important. I have the ability to use my time as I feel fit, but so often I use it counter to my calling as a Salvation Army Officer. I was called to be a Preacher above all other things, yet I was reluctant to give up a morning of my week to do what I was called to do. I think we all know what's important...let's just make sure we follow our heart with those important things.