As I go through life on this journey of ups, downs, valleys and mountain peaks, I discovered a few things. One of those things is that when you do something on a regular basis, it usually produces results. As an Indigenous man and believer in Jesus, I want to produce fruit that will last.
Someone who professes to be a Christian should also not only believe in Jesus and the scriptures, but should live that faith out in action (Matthew 3). Then those actions should make progress to the extent that when others look at our lives, they will know something special is going on. At that point, we are producing results that are visible.
As a husband, father, student and worker in the kingdom of God, I have found that doing small amounts on a regular basis has produced the most results for me personally. One of the ways I ended up coming across this was finding out a few years ago that I have adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). I also found out that my late biological mother drank alcohol when I was unborn. I learned that people who have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are more likely to have ADHD.
When I found this out, after taking several sessions and filling out surveys and questionnaires, it was like a light came on in my head and heart. Having this new knowledge about myself and then weighing that against all the years of my life now made perfect sense: Why I did certain things. Why I struggled with certain things. How many times I have had trouble finishing things. Why all my life I've struggled with giving my full attention during church services and weddings and funerals.
What do all these things have to do with ADHD? It's all about having to sit through extended public events that go longer than 30 minutes. So, one of the ways I deal with that challenge is that I'm on a certain medication that helps me focus and get through that. I do most things more regularly, but in small amounts. I'm almost finished with my doctoral studies, and I still minister regularly, I still do all the responsibilities of a father, husband, and grandfather. So somehow it has all been getting done. The grace of God is working through the help I'm getting.
Talking about all this is exciting because this makes me a better believer and follower of Jesus. It enables me to produce more fruit that will last. I apply this approach to everything I do in life now. Why? Because everything I do in life is connected with being a follower of Jesus. Preparing and delivering a sermon at church, writing a column, taking out the garbage, washing the dishes, taking my wife to dinner and a movie, talking, and listening to my adult children. It's all either building up the kingdom of God, or it's tearing it down.
I used to have an all-or-nothing approach to many things. The problem with that is that I left a lot of "nothing" behind. Yes, I have been building and building and producing and producing and lasting and lasting. Do you see what I did there? Small amounts of repetition. Another reason this approach works well for me is that although I do ministry work I'm an introvert, which means I can spend lots of time by myself and it doesn't bother me. It actually serves to refuel my physical, spiritual, emotional and spiritual engines.
My brother said to me once, "I never understood how pastors can be introverts." Then after reading different articles and columns, I realized that this is common. The Creator doesn't say that if you're an introvert you shouldn't be a pastor or work in ministry. It's simply the way the Creator has designed us. We are made in His image, whether we're introverts or extroverts. My wife's an extrovert, so I understand this difference.
We all go through ups and downs in life. Just like the drill sergeant said to the soldier, "Left, right! Left-right! Left-right! Left-right!" This is how soldiers can stay focused when marching through any terrain. When we look at scripture, one of the ways it describes followers of Jesus is for us to be a soldier for Christ (2 Timothy 2). I also take this advice seriously. It's all connected with producing fruit, fruit that will last for eternity.
This is also one of the ways my heart heals from any past wrongs or hurts in the midst of moving forward with any tasks before me. One hurt at a time, one obstacle at a time, one challenge at a time. Left-right! Left-right! Left-right!
Parry Stelter is originally from Alexander First Nation, which is part of Treaty Six Territory. He is an author, speaker, Bible teacher, and workshop facilitator. He is also a doctoral candidate in Contextual Leadership. Visit his website at http:/www.wordofhopeministries.ca
