Dealing with chronic pain is a real... well, pain! Some of you know what I mean, as you may battle with your own version of physical pain. Perhaps you were in an accident, or contracted a disease, or your health is simply deteriorating due to aging.
The pain-journey provides plenty of hurdles over which we must jump in order to stay in the race. This often includes honest evaluation of our own lives and daily routines. Some things come more naturally, while others require a deliberate awareness and effort on our part to accomplish what needs to be done.
The last couple of weeks I have been doing this very thing. I have been evaluating my life and reviewing what has been happening, and more importantly, what hasn't been happening. The process was about as fun as doing a root canal job on yourself!
On a more serious note... I constructed a list of things that need deliberate, conscious effort on my part to see them become healthy and active components of my life. Some of them are just basic to life, while others are more critically important. I didn't list the priorities that are already being accomplished - just those to which I need to give special attention.
1. More meaningful interaction with Teresa (my wife).
It is so easy to give all of one's emotional and physical energy to work and to others, all at the expense of our own family members. By the end of the day my pain level (and fatigue level) tend to be at their maximum, and the zombie phase of the day has already begun by the time that I arrive home.
So, my intention is to be more consciously aware and deliberate in keeping the zombie-mode away just a little while longer so that I can interact with my wife in a meaningful manner.
2. Timely Communication
It has been interesting to experience a real difficulty in mustering the emotional strength to communicate. Interesting, but certainly not healthy to let it go unaddressed.
The deliberate attention that I need to give to communication includes: a) Responding to phone calls and emails in a more timely manner, and b) Initiating relational communication with family and friends that goes beyond just the bare necessities.
3. Personal Grooming
In the mornings, the pain is quite excruciating from the moment that I crawl out of bed. My feet hurt terribly, my skin is tender to the touch, it hurts to comb the hair, and shaving the face is really quite a pathetic experience.
However, I have grown tired of wearing the baseball hat, t-shirts and jeans, and tennis shoes in an attempt to find some kind of comfortableness. My hope is to raise the standard, so that my average day's dress and grooming are more "normal" for an office worker or "professional people person."
4. Administrative Tasks at the Office
I seem to do quite well at getting to-do's entered into my Microsoft Outlook program. That is not the problem. Actually doing them - that is the problem!
A common difficulty is when I read the task list my body does not feel like it can focus and accomplish any of the tasks. This is where I need to focus on two things: either dig deep into my soul and find the self-discipline to do it, or if appropriate, to delegate it to a staff member or a church volunteer.
5. Less Driving - More Reading
I love to go for a drive - a long drive! I always have enjoyed it, and it has often served as some of my best thinking time. For some reason, the more pain that I am in, the more I like to drive.
This however must be curtailed from its current level. I need to direct myself to other things that are restful and productive, like sitting in an easy chair while reading and studying.
6. Home Office Organization
One of the aspects about pastoring (at least in my case) is that I maintain two offices - one at the church and one at home. This requires organization!! Certain things are done better at home, and other things are done better at the church office.
Since we moved into a new house earlier this year, I (we) have not finished setting up and organizing our home office yet - though we are making progress. In the meantime, those things that I usually got done at the home office have been neglected by me. This is not good!
7. Consistent Personal Financial Management
For some reason, I do not enjoy (not in the least) sitting down and paying the bills. Though I could probably say with accuracy that I am proficient in most aspects of business accounting, the actual sitting down and entering the slips and printing the checks just requires an enormous amount of self-discipline. I have to dig very deep to find the motivation to "just do it."
However, this does need to be done. Therefore, it made it onto my list of seven priorities that need my deliberate attention on a daily basis.
Well, that's it for now. Thanks for reading, and I hope that my transparency will prompt you to do the same for your life. I look forward to the help and partnership that Christ will be providing to me as He and I walk through this life together. I know that He will do the same for you, if you will invite Him in.
Friday, November 11, 2005 at 02:27PM 
The Heart & Path site has a new URL:
Also, if you are subscribed through a syndication feed, the new URL should be used also. At this point I have no intention of leaving my host, Squarespace.com (which, by the way, is a GREAT publishing system that is entirely web-based and extremely customizable) but if I should need to change my host, the new URL would remain valid.
David J. Hall
