One Bite at a Time

Are you overwhelmed? This is a word we often hear from people who work in the Church. Merely maintaining our systems, programs, and buildings can bear a heavy load. When we look at a more mission-oriented church that forms disciples of Jesus, there is an overwhelming amount of work to do.

Desmond Tutu wisely once said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” He didn’t say this as a recommendation for an elephant burger. In his wisdom, he was giving reprieve to the overwhelmed and stressed. Every large project or transition or mission requires a series of steps or actions or bites.

There are a few simple ways we can practically implement Tutu’s advice:

Breaking Down Projects into Steps: If you were to take on a major renovation in your home, you wouldn’t just start knocking down walls. There are a series of actions: find a contractor, draw a blueprint, price out materials, get permits, etc.

The same is true if you want to make major changes to a system, process, or program in your parish. Let’s say you want to change the way you offer First Communion preparation. You would need to go one step at a time. Start by drawing up a plan, then researching programs, then consulting the pastoral team. By breaking a project down into steps, it becomes more than an idea. It becomes manageable and actionable, even more so when those steps have timely benchmarks associated with them.

Next Best Thing: Even with those steps, large projects can feel daunting. Tutu’s advice also suggests that you may not have to tackle the whole elephant. Start with one thing you can do right now to move the needle forward.

An example may be the desire to make your weekend liturgies more welcoming to new people. You can begin by adding simple signage around the entryway of your parish indicating where the restrooms are.

Perhaps you’re wanting to provide more personal outreach to people who have left the congregation. You do not necessarily begin a full campaign with committees and meetings; you can begin by reaching out to one person. Do it right now – take 2 minutes to reach out to someone!

Say No: If you’ve ever seen a toddler eat something they love, you’ve probably heard a parent say, “You have too much in your mouth.” Tutu may also be reminding us that we need to say no to allow room for the bite we already have in our mouths.

One of the most difficult people to say no to is ourselves. We want to do so much and be the change and help others know Jesus, but we struggle to prioritize our work and say no to things at the bottom of the list. Challenge yourself to say no to new things or old things that are no longer working.

No matter if it’s a major project broken down into a step-by-step plan or a single action, there is forward movement. Overwhelm can paralyze us, but small, simple actions are what moves us forward. Take on the elephant.