I’ve been stuck lately.

It’s that place where you aren’t sure what to do next, but a lot rides on you doing something next.

Think “deer in the highlight.” Think “paralysis by analysis.”

I’ve done this before.

It sucks.

Here’s how it usually happens for me…
I’m faced with a rather large list of stuff to do. It’s usually stuff that is contingent on other stuff. And it’s usually stuff that is very important to me.  But, I don’t know where to begin.

That’s where the analysis starts.

I think through all conceivable options until my head hurts. Yet, I still can’t seem to figure out the most effective approach. This is not my strong suit so I get insecure.

Then I get overwhelmed.

That’s when I start looking at other, more successful people and judge myself against them. Then comes the barrage of junk, “blah (insecurity)…blah (loser mentality)…blah (inadequacy)…”

That’s when the deer-eyed paralysis happens.

It sucks.  (Did I mention that already?)

But now I know the antidote to this syndrome.

**TRUTH and ACTION are the antidote to the paralysis.**

Let me give you an example…

PROBLEM:   I want to be a better parent.

My daughter always invites me in to her pretend games. “Mommy, will you play with me?” I am really bad at pretend play. So, I always try to redirect her to something more structured that doesn’t involve me pretending.  It doesn’t help me be a better parent.

TRUTH:  Okay, so I’m bad at pretend. No matter how much I worry about it – I will probably always be terrible at making up fantastic games with a one-armed Barbie and a stuffed polar bear.

ACTION:  Honestly, she doesn’t care how well I pretend. She just wants me to play with her. I need to get over myself and just do it.

Here’s another example…

PROBLEM:  I want to build the Dream Tour ministry to reach more and more people, more and more effectively.

I see the vision of where I think it’s supposed to go. But, I’m really struggling how to get there.

TRUTH:  I’m not sure what I’m doing or to do next. I’m not a Steve Jobs type.  I’m an average-joe giving God all I have to give.

ACTION:  I just need to keep doing what I can and let God do what he does. 100 tiny, imperfect steps will take me farther than one seemingly perfect step. As a very wise friend of mine says, “Keep the bicycle rolling and God will steer.”

I believe God doesn’t ask for our perfection, he wants our passion.

Passion I have.

But, I spend too much of my passion worrying about being imperfect. I waste my enthusiasm on comparing myself to others who I think are more perfect than me. And I squander my zeal concerned about my average joe-ness.

The story of the Gospel is how God takes passionate average joes like me and does extraordinary things in and through them.

That’s the truth.

All that is required is a tiny, imperfect, passionate step towards believing it.

Are you stuck?
Are you squandering your passion on worthless stuff?
What is the tiny, imperfect, passionate step you will take today?