Intender's bridge: Multitasking

[Guest guest]

The Bridge ~ Reminder #50

Multitasking

You deserve to have the kind of setting that supports you

Our culture today requires many of us to do several jobs at the same time. In

fact, multitasking has become the standard in our lives - we talk on the cell

phone, while we work on an important memo for the office, while we add to the

day's grocery list, while we stand in line at the restaurant, while we . . .

We've become so accustomed to constantly stimulating ourselves that we're even

apt to poke fun at those who do not share our penchant for multitasking. They're

too slow, we say, or they're too inefficient. Thank God we don't have to work

with them on a regular basis, or we'd end up in the loony bin!

The other side of the coin is more contemplative, more meditative, and those who

prefer it live a somewhat calmer lifestyle. They know the wisdom in doing one

thing at a time, and doing it well. They subscribe to the " quality is better

than quantity " mindset, advocating that the world would be a better place for

all of us if we'd just slow down and take a closer look at our immediate

surroundings.

So, who is right? Both are.

And which way is best for us personally? That depends on our calling, or what we

came here to do.

Clearly, some people need to accomplish great worldly things, and in order to do

so they have to keep several irons in the fire at all times. Likewise, others

came here to explore their inner environment, and all of the stimuli that come

with multitasking act as a constant distraction to them. Their point of view

suddenly becomes more valid when held up against the light of putting our

attention to its highest and best use. For there is one thing that the

contemplative person is able to do that the multitasker isn't: he or she can

hold their attention on any one thing easier than someone who is overstimulated.

They can look deeply into and discover the essence of things. Indeed, it is in

the holding of our attention on any one thing that all things are revealed to

us.

One day BJ and I were pruning a stand of overgrown avocado trees on the lower

section of the land in Kona. The job required us taking turns running a chain

saw way up in the trees, keeping track of the cuts we were making, tying ropes,

watching out for weak limbs, etc. We had to hold our attention on several things

at the same time.

Sometime late in the morning we were both hot and sweaty, so we decided to take

a break. As BJ leaned back against the trunk of the tree we were working on he

started talking. " You know, Tony, most people can learn to juggle. With a little

practice, the average person can easily keep three balls in the air at the same

time. It's when they add the fourth ball that they get into trouble. "

" Uhhuh " I said, wondering where he was going with this idea.

" Yeah, " he said, " you see it all the time in people's lives. They'll be working

to keep their job running smoothly, their family happy, and perhaps they'll have

a hobby, like tennis or tinkering with a custom car in the garage. Most people

can handle doing three things at the same time. It's when they add the fourth

that things get weird. For instance, let's say that they've got the job, the

family, and their spiritual development going along fine, and then they decide

to take on another part time job, for whatever reasons. That's when people's

lives begin to fall apart. "

" It's an interesting analogy, " I commented.

" It's more than an analogy, " he replied emphatically. " It's a very real

phenomenon of human consciousness. People don't realize how they affect their

lives and the lives of those around them when they take on new projects. Like I

said, most people can easily juggle three balls; it's when they add the fourth

one that ALL of the balls get dropped. "

My Intention for today is:

I Intend that I am creating a living environment for myself where I am easily

able to keep my attention focused on my priorities.