Grass cutting season has almost come to an end. The season has been more doable and more enjoyable this year because of the addition of a zero-turn mower to our “fleet” of yard care equipment. The task now takes less time by about 1/3. Even so, mowing is almost daily during the Spring growing season—in excess of 10-12 hours each week. Later in the summer and into Fall, not as much.
How do I know where to start on any given day? I developed a system. I keep a record in my smart phone. I have about 12 acres to keep mowed. So I divided the cutting into manageable areas—and I named them: front yards, horse pasture, back four, solar array area, pool yard, barn yard, etc. About 16 different areas in all! I record the date when each area is cut. When I prepare to mow on any given day, I can easily see the probable areas that need current attention. I don’t need to ride around looking at all the property. My wife thinks it’s humorous. I like it. Very systematic.
I do the same kind of thing with our household budget. I track expenses in different categories and escrow funds for annual or semi-annual payments like car or property insurance. Very systematic.
I keep lists (in my smart phone) of various smaller projects around the property. Then I check off (and delete) items on the list as they are completed. Very systematic.
I suppose all of this behavioral style is in my nature. For whatever reason, I have always been an organized person. It’s in my nature. I was an undergraduate math major in college. My #1 spiritual gift is “administration.” No surprise there!
I am not sure that faith is systematic, however. I am not sure there is really any such thing as “systematic” theology. I enrolled in the required courses in systematic theology in seminary. Mostly, I learned that systematic theologians seldom agree. Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Rudolf Bultmann, Dietrich Bonhoffer (I’m showing my age here!): all from two countries in the same part of Europe; profoundly deep, little agreement. Mystery abounds. Grace abounds.
All I really know is that God is good—all the time. And I deeply believe that while God does not will everything that happens, in everything that happens God wills good.
I am content to live under that reality. I cannot organize God. I can only “keep my eyes upon Jesus” and discover all I need to know about God, God’s purpose, God’s intent, and God’s radically different kind of Kingdom. I celebrate that very unsystematic but profound gift in my journey of faith and adventure.