By Rick Moore

Going through a drive-through at lunch is a simple process for some. Many just pick a meal deal and drive around. Others tend to over think it. They begin by saying to the person taking the order, “just one moment please.” They then try to remember what they ordered the last time they were there and if they really liked it. Wanting to save money, they consider what is on sale or the special of the day, but then counter by asking themselves, is that what I really want? They then begin counting calories which makes them consider what they will have for dinner or what they had for breakfast, knowing they can only have so many calories a day. The person in the car behind them begins honking the horn and the voice comes over the speaker for a third time saying, “just let me know when you are ready to order.” At this point, analysis paralysis sets in, and in a moment of pressure and complete frustration, they blurt out “give me a number three.” That’s not what they really wanted, but at least the ordeal is over and the pressure of the world is no longer on their shoulders.

There are some decisions which should never be made in haste. Taking time to gather facts, ask family and friends for advice, and praying about major decisions is critical. Determining the house you buy, the car you drive, and the career path you take should never be rushed, even if it means missing an opportunity. But there is a big difference between planning and procrastinating.

As the story goes, seven girls have a race to the opposite side of the lake. Four girls start running around the lake to get to the other side. Two girls jump in a canoe and start paddling. Not certain which would be the quickest route, the seventh girl puts one foot in a canoe and keeps the other foot on shore. For just a brief moment, she questions if she should run or paddle. It was in that brief moment of indecision she slid in the mud and fell flat on her face. Needless to say, her indecision caused her to be the last person to make it to the other side. Indecision is often the reason an individual or a group falls behind.

Why is it the simplest questions can be so hard to answer? Often out of courtesy, people politely defer to others, not wanting it to appear it is their way or the highway. “Where would you like to go eat?” “What movie would you like to see?” “What program do you want to watch on TV?” Sometimes we are just kind and defer to others. Other times we really aren’t sure what we want. Then again, it may be the reason for the indecision has less to do with being polite and more to do with keeping score. Who picked last time?, Whose time is it to choose now? If you find yourself keeping score with those around you, remember this irony… no one wins by keeping score!

What is the best way to get a team of horses to the other side of the mountain? One person may think you should go to the left. One person may think you should go to the right. One person may think you should go over the mountain-top. The problem is, if all the horses are pulling in opposite directions, they will never make it to the other side. A decision has to be made, and in unity, the journey must begin with everyone heading in the same direction, even if it’s not the best way.

Pretend you are checking out at the grocery store and see two people in one line with their carts full, and four people in another line with only a few items in their hands. Which line should you choose? The answer is… it doesn’t matter. Just relax. You will be happier picking the wrong line than stressing out. Besides, you will need to focus on the really, really, really important questions of life such as… “paper or plastic?”

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