In the world of theological education, it is hardly rare for one’s colleagues to be evangelical about the books that they are reading. We are people of texts and words, after all. We spend years learning to read closely, to attend to the subtle nuances of an argument, to hear the words between the words and the dialogue that spans generations. It is little wonder then that when we read truth articulated in beautiful ways we want to pass it on.
From time to time, I find myself in the role of evangelist, too, urging others to read a book that was simply too good to put down. This does not happen often as few people really care what I am reading for the next chapter of the dissertation. And it seldom happens for books taken from the business world, where most books read like the notes of a PowerPoint presentation.
But occasionally, a business book surprises me with the importance of its insights.
Recently, a student recommended “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown. At first, I thought it was yet another volume in the already expansive literature about time management for senior leaders. Yet there was something about the subtitle – “The Disciplined Pursuit of Less”-- that made me take note. Once I started reading, it was easily the best hour-and-a-half I spent reading in July.
McKeown’s basic argument will not make headlines: in a culture that pushes us to do more, we are accomplishing less and making less of an impact on the world around us. Thus, we should commit ourselves to choose to do fewer things in a more disciplined way to make a greater impact.
The part of the book that I found most compelling (and that I most need in my life and work at the moment) is his challenge to clearly define three criteria by which we will judge every invitation, every opportunity and every possibility that comes to us. These three criteria emerge, in his schema, form the three most important things that we want, need or feel called to accomplish in the next three months.
If an opportunity meets none or only one of our self-defined criteria, we should say no without further thought or guilt. Likewise, if it meets all three of our criteria, we should say yes eagerly. If an opportunity satisfies only two criteria, McKeown’s recommendation is that we reject it, as well. He acknowledges that the temptation will be to do the opposite, to convince ourselves that “two out of three isn’t bad” and to agree.
But no. Only three out of three suffices. This is the disciplined pursuit of less.
In the few weeks since reading this book, I have recommended it two colleagues who have been working to regain some sense of work-life balance. I have recommended it to a friend who is leading a team that is approaching a critical juncture in its life. I have recommended it to my priest as a text for our vestry to read together so as to define our parish priorities in the next three months and for the next three years, so that our parish “yes” means more and our “no” frees us.
And now, I commend it to you. Make no mistake, “Essentialism”is not written in beautiful prose that will stir your soul. The argument is hardly nuanced. It doesn’t have to be. It feels true and right and -- dare I say it? -- healing.
We cannot do it all, but we can make a difference. If we know and name the essentials. It’s good stewardship of what may be our most limited resource -- our time.
That’s a message worth passing on.
