I recently had a conversation with a friend about some potential projects he was considering becoming involved with. About one of those projects, I said to him, “That is something worthy of your energies.”
As I reflected later about that formulation of my reaction, it struck me that it may be one of the best ways to consider whether or not to say “yes” to the various opportunities that come our way. “It is worthy of my energies?
For me the emphasis is on both “worthy” and “my.” A baseline part of the equation is whether the project is a worthy one in and of itself. And we may have various ways we evaluate that. Does it further the Kingdom? Does it lead to greater faith, hope and love in the world? Does it help others grow? Etc.
But the worthiness of the project is only part. There are many worthwhile things I may do a great job at, but that I am not necessarily uniquely suited for. Things that could be done as easily or as good by someone else. Saying yes to one of those projects may require that I not take on something for which I bring unique, or at least special, gifts to bear.
We need to be intentional about how we use our time. And I think thinking in terms of whether a proposed use of that time is worthy of our energies is a helpful way to approach our discernment.
Creo en Dios! 