Eureka! Verily, verily I say unto you: I have discovered the secret to life.

It is to do one thing at a time.

I have been doing this for the past two weeks, since coming across the Gerald May quote (please re-read the blog entry for December 10). And I have never before been so relaxed two days before Christmas Eve.

It is important to decide what are the most important tasks to accomplish on a particular day. Do the most important thing first, with attentiveness. When you have finished with that, then do the next-important -- again, with attentiveness. If you are interrupted in your work (by a child, a co-worker, a parishioner, on the phone or in person), give your attentiveness to that person for the few minutes of the conversation. Don't worry about the other thing to be done. It will still be there when you finish the conversation. (And there is always the possibility that the interruption may be more important than the other work you were doing! You can discern that through your attentiveness.) If you only have a limited amount of time to do what you are doing, before another obligation, set your electronic watch or a timer for the minutes you have available. That way you aren't having to watch the clock, which causes anxiety. You can be calm and attentive to what you are doing, until it is time to do the next thing.

In my spiritual reading, I had come across this approach many times. The teaching to do one thing at a time, with attentiveness, is all through the Benedictine tradition of Christianity and Zen Buddhism. It truly is a spiritual practice. It's just that I had never seriously tried it! But, two weeks ago, it seemed the perfect time, with the work load leading up to Christmas, and the anxiety that that was causing me.

While doing one thing at a time, I have received several significant learnings.

First, when I discipline myself to do the the most important thing first, then the next-most important thing, then the next, etc., I find there is time to do what really needs to be done during a day!

Second, when I practice this, I feel freed from the terrible feeling that there is not enough time. (What causes you to feel that way? Isn't it when you're doing something, but you're really anxious about the other stuff that needs to get done? So, at the end of the day, even when it turns out that you have indeed accomplished all that you needed to do that day, all the time you have been anxiously working as if there isn't enough time! Right?)

Third, I am able to give attention to each person I talk to during the day. I'm able to enjoy each person! (Christ comes to us in the other person.)

Fourth, I am able to keep perspective. The work I was not able to get to today? I'll get to it -- by scheduling it for another day, according to its importance.

Now, I'll stop writing this. Today will be a big, joyful day, if I can avoid being anxious about all that needs t be done! All four of our children (I include a daughter-in-law and a fiance in that count!) are arriving at lunch time, and Patty's parents and sister and her daughter are coming over for dinner. So, this morning, while Patty does her magic in the kitchen, I must straighten up the clutter, and then dust, and then vacuum, and then clean the bathrooms, and then ...

One thing at a time!