Shoring things Up a bit 9.17.2026

     Not every single thing is critical. Every job has tasks that are helpful but not central, useful but not critical, good but not the best. When the “good” things begin to overwhelm the best, when the edges compress the center and keep you from being your best; then it is time to recalibrate and shore things up a bit. 

Consideration

    It may be a pile, a stack, or a list but you need to get things written down on paper and screen. The papers that need sorted, the deeds done, words to be written, people to be visited. Don’t try and remember it. If you really want to get those ducks lined up, then do it—line them up. 

    Write things down. Make charts and tables—surely, you have a ruler. Use your computer, use a note pad, use index cards. Sometimes we need to get the outstanding tasks before us so that we can clearly see how things are related. You can’t shore things up until and unless you make a clear, considered distinction between what needs to be done and what must be done. 

Consolidation

    When you are lining up all those ducks you may find that not all are equal. In fact, while reflecting, thinking, and considering what you need to do you will likely find you are fretting over things that are not actually things. Or perhaps they are not relevant. Maybe they have expired. It is also likely that some independent tasks are actually smaller steps to completing larger projects. Again, you must look critically at things and sort out their relationships to draw the right conclusion(s).

    At this point you can begin to consolidate some things. There is nothing like eliminating things from your list by combining similar items. You may even find that this process of consolidation saves time because the combination of tasks takes fewer steps. 

Delegation

    Another sure way to shore things up is to hand off items that you don’t need to be doing. Delegation frees up mental and physical energy by taking off your plate those things that never should have been there I the first place. 

    Once things are added to your to-do list it can be very difficult to remove them. Setting aside regular time for delegation can be essential to your mental health. Don’t do those things others can and should do. 

Elimination

    You cannot say “no” until you really understand what your central purpose is and feel comfortable saying yes to the best practices that allow you to pursue that purpose. The problem isn’t that saying no can appear negative; the issue is that always saying yes betrays confusion. 

    Taking an afternoon to go over everything—reviewing lists, calendars, complete work can do wonders for remembering what it is you are doing as a preacher. Once you really know “why” it becomes much easier to say “no.” And when you know what your “no” is you can go back over your schedule and cut out those things which distract and divert you. 

    Most preachers are not very good at saying no. It takes many years and a compulsive focus on what is essential to say no without it being perceived as unduly negative. If we are forthright with our congregation and leadership, they will learn to understand that in a well-planned ministry there will be many tasks, good as they may be that should not be on our plate. In that case “no” often means better alignment with gifts, skills, and opportunities. Things the preacher or professional staff do, which can be done by others should be done by others. 

    Shoring things up is not just abandoning tasks to others. It also gives us the chance to consider what needs done next year, or even the following year. A good plan should be a look forward, based upon a considered, critical look at the past.