Welcome to Spirit Wednesday where we take a look at all things spiritual from meditation to prayer to cleaning the house. Yes, even house work can be a spiritual experience… if you choose to see it that way.

Just as we know certain conditions can create terrific storms, such as a sandstorm, we know deadlines do not come out of nowhere either. How we deal with that oncoming storm means the difference between increasing amounts of stress and a steady rhythm of calm.

Mounting stress…

If you’ve ever pulled an all-nighter to finish a project or study for a big exam, you know what it feels like to wait until the sandstorm is upon you before deciding it would be a good idea to take cover. While we might have the gear we need to survive (notes, completed research, etc.), if we don’t then we’re looking at a slim chance of pulling through unscathed.

At the very least we’re going to feel the stress of waiting until the last moment in our bodies and our psyches.

The better solution…

Rather than waiting for that sandstorm deadline to roll over us we can plan ahead to be ready. Of course, planning from the very beginning is best, but even taking some time out anywhere before that last minute to decide on a course of action is a good idea.

For example, my goal is to finish the first draft of my current WIP, Apprentice Cat, by the end of the year. That has been my deadline since Jan. 1, 2011. However, I waited until July 31, 2011, to figure out how I would reach that goal in specific, measurable steps.

I just looked at the calendar and compared it to what I need to do in order meet my goal. Can I do it? I don’t know. That’s not the point. The point is to keep working my plan to the best of my ability.

If we stop to watch the sandstorm roll in we won’t get anything done to prepare for it. There’s time, but you have to keep moving.

Do you ever find yourself watching a deadline roll in rather than working steadily toward a goal? What do you do to keep on track?

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Prayer can be as complex as we want or as simple as we need, but sometimes we need a little help getting started. In Simply Prayer you’ll discover the basics of: what prayer is, why we pray, how to pray, and how to know your prayers are answered. If you’re looking for ideas and examples on simple ways to pray you can find them in Simply Prayer, available in print, for Kindle, Nook and audio book.