Just this past week, I had some car repairs I needed to take care of. So after checking online to see what was required, I decided to do the work myself. Now, it took a little longer than I would have liked to finish the project (it always does, doesn’t it?), but there was one thing I came away thankful for: having a space to do the work.
It may not seem like a big deal, but the fact that I had a garage to use for the project was very helpful. You see, at our last house, I probably would have had to use the alley behind the house to do the repairs. This is where I parked, and was the typical place I would use to do any auto-related work. And although I could make it work to a certain degree, there’s something about having an area that’s clean, level, lighted, and covered, that made everything go so much smoother.
From working on cars to working on life
Since finishing the project, I’ve been thinking about how this same dynamic can apply to other areas of life. Not that we should all have garages, but that having space set aside to do the work we need to do is invaluable.
The ‘work’ could consist of things like investing in a relationship, building a business, or developing a habit or skill. It varies from individual to individual, but the constant is unless we’re intentional about making space for these kinds of things, it becomes that much more difficult to make sure they get done.
For some kinds of work, the space needed may be a physical space — like a workshop or a garage. Other times, the space is simply a matter of time — blocking out space on the calendar to focus on what needs to be done.
In our relationships, this may entail blocking out daily or weekly time to devote to conversation, being present with those we love. In business, it could look like setting aside weekly or monthly chunks of time for longer-term, strategic thinking and work. For our own physical, mental, and spiritual health, it may look like blocking out time for exercise, or study, or meditation, or prayer.
The more important the task, project, or relationship, the more important it is to have space to give it our attention. But unless we’re intentional about doing so, it’s all too easy to let whatever happens to be most pressing in the moment to set our course for the day, instead of what’s most important.
Just like a craftsman needs a dedicated space to do his work, each of us needs space in our lives to work on the things that matter most.