Doing the Next Thing

Saturdays are full of choices: what to do and where to do it?

And today is no different for me. Because it didnt work out that I head to Unicoi State Park to hike the Smith Creek trail, I headed to the office to catch up/get ahead on some ever-present paperwork: posting, balancing, billing, scheduling, filing, organizing, et cetera. Even if I'd stayed at home, there is laundry, cleaning, cooking, and ironing.

It makes me happy to be busy. Read Robert Service's poem.


And for safekeeping, here's a poem used by Elisabeth Elliot, to encourage us in our daily lives.

"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
Its quaint Saxon legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, 'Do the next thing.'

Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, do the next thing.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, do the next thing.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
the light of His countenance, be thy psalm.
Do the next thing."

What's keeping you occupied this particular Saturday?