Food for Focusing When Frazzled

I love a good quote. “A truth summed up in a memorable sentence or two can be carried in the heart for a lifetime.” (I wrote that one, so feel free to use it liberally!)

Years ago I began collecting quotes — on all different topics from all kinds of people. I have leadership quotes, biblical quotes, Christian quotes, military quotes, historical quotes. I try to capture anything that hits me as worthwhile when I read it.

This morning I was flipping through a few quotes I’ve gathered and came upon some words by Peter Drucker. If you’re not familiar with Peter Drucker, he’s worth getting to know. A great amount of what we take for granted in contemporary leadership — whether in business, government, nonprofits, education, or the Church — is based on his thinking. Here is a good article that can get you started. Anyway, here’s the quote:

“Worry not about whether you will survive. Worry not about whether you will succeed. Worry much about whether you will be useful.”

~Peter Drucker

In a season of unease, it’s easy for me to focus on the first two and forget the third. God invites us into meaningful work to do each day. Drucker’s words remind me that I can focus more on faithfulness in this moment and less on what may or may not happen tomorrow or next week.