"Beware the I'ds of March."  I often wonder if procrastination might be one of my spiritual gifts. I find it easy to put off until tomorrow what I don’t want to do today. In several classroom lectures, I will ask my students how many of them suffer from the same delay difficulties. When several hands go up, I’ll offer them the news of a Procrastinators Support group that meets in Oxford. Some student’s eyes will show a look of hope only to have it dashed when I inform them that I have yet to attend any of the meetings. It’s at that point they realize I pulled them right into the middle of a joke. We discuss procrastination quite often in my classes. I share the following procrastination story:  

My friend, Kim Spillers, has an artistically gifted daughter. During one evening, Hannah was supposed to be studying for her middle school midterm exams. Her mother checked on her to see how studying was going. Hannah held up a drawing pad and said, “This is what procrastination looks like.”   The drawing was two pears sitting side by side with one sliced in half. Kim posted it on a social media page. I saved the photo and had it printed into a four by six frame for myself, and one into an eight by ten for Hannah. I named the painting, “A Pear (pair) of Procrastinators.” The framed photo sits on my desk at work to inspire me to get things done and to let my students know I didn’t make the story up. Kim told me a year ago that Hannah’s copy hangs on her bedroom wall.  

When I took on the job as Recreation and Sports Minister at Germantown Baptist Church, my family moved from Springfield, Missouri to Collierville, Tennessee. We had a rambunctious puppy that didn’t like to stay within the boundaries of his yard. The yard had fences running down the sides but an open space along the back of the yard. Even though this meant I had to put a leash on the dog every time he had to go outside I was able to delay fence work for the first few months. Then one Saturday, the neighbor behind us moved in the boards and put up a fence along the backside of the yard. I felt, in some weird way, that I had won the victory with procrastination. It becomes even more challenging to stop procrastinating when it becomes rewarding.

Several years ago, I met a new friend, Donna Brady, who lives in the Chicago area. Her mother worked at a retirement community where I had once been employed and at the time was providing consulting services with the staff. I told Donna of a lifelong dream of getting to Wrigley Field and watching a Chicago Cubs game. Donna advised me not to delay the opportunity and that she would serve as my Chicago area tour guide. She referred to the occasion as the “cudda, wudda, shudda” adventure. She continued by explaining that many people live with regrets later in life because they could have, would have, or should have done something when they had the chance.   I took the journey that next summer and enjoyed a baseball game at Wrigley, Chicago pizza, and a famous Italian Beef sandwich. Thank you, Donna. Life is good.  

The opportunity for action is always available. Some, as I have done, put it off until later. Others complain about what they could have, would have, or should have done. With it being the month of March, instead of calling it the “cudda, wudda, shudda” opportunities, I shall use the contraction form and rename the warning, “Beware the I’ds of March.”   Similar to other procrastinating actions, the “I’d” do something strikes at the same fear of trying. Some might say, I’d teach a class at the ReachGathering conference, but I don’t feel qualified. Others may say, I’d write a blog article or attempt a book for Overwhelming Victory Press, but who would want to read it. Or, I’d serve on a CSRM board or committee, but no one has ever asked me. I have no doubt there are those who would say, “I’d donate to the work of CSRM, but I don’t know how to do so. I’m speaking here to a particular audience with the actions mentioned in the previous paragraph, but the “I’ds” cause difficulty in whatever path you are supposed to be taking.  

The difficulty with each “I could, I would, or I should” is the word that follows it, “but.” To avoid, in this the third month of the year, the “I’ds of March,” we must learn to deal with our big “buts.” We must follow the advice of my Chicago friend and avoid the “cudda, wudda, shudda” lies from the devil which we so readily believe. We must put aside the pears of procrastination and jump in with both feet into the pool of possibilities.   Please allow me to assist with some possible action points.

 -Attend the ReachGathering (www.reachgathering.org) this April and meet the foundational leaders that organize the workshop and the seminars. You might just be leading a workshop in 2020.  
  -Perhaps you’d write an article about a story or experience in sports, recreation, and fitness and send it to me at dwaddell7@gmail.com. I’ll forward it to the editors for consideration.  
  -How about a gift of time by serving on a committee? Go to www.csrm.org and review the areas of service such as blog editorial, certification team, or academic partners and email me (dwaddell7@gmail.com) with your interest in serving.  
  -Do you desire the opportunity to assist financially? Go to www.csrm.org/donate and create an account where you can donate one time, monthly, or however it is convenient for you. You can give to the general budget or designate your offering to a particular staff member or project.  

The “Ides of March” was originally a date for Romans to settle their debts. It turned out to be a bad day for Julius Caesar as the “settling” for him meant his assassination, thus the term, “Beware the Ides of March.” Our warning against the “I’ds of March” are similar in settling a debt of service and defying the enemy’s lies of “cudda, wudda, shudda.” So, instead of saying the phrase, “beware the ides of March,” perhaps we should simply be aware of the “I’ds of March” and get involved in things that will impact eternity.   I look forward to your involvement!
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Professor David Waddell currently teaches at Ole Miss and is CSRM's Executive Director.  He had a long tenure as a SR&F Outreach Minister at a local church in Memphis, Tennessee and has authored three books.  Contact him at dwaddell7@gmail.com
His books can be ordered at:  https://csrm.z2systems.com/np/clients/csrm/giftstore.jsp