Planning and strategizing today

CONTRARY to what some people think, I believe that

planning and strategizing are becoming more relevant today when we can

observe a very rapid and even neck-breaking pace of developments and

changes.

            If handled properly with the right attitudes, dispositions

and skills, the plans and strategies we make would not become a drag

that would freeze us and put us in some kind of silo, but would rather

enhance our capacity to cope and to take advantage of the new things

coming up. Even the surprises and other unexpected things in life

would be better handled if we make plans and strategies.

  

            We have to be careful of reacting to the rapid changes in

an instinctive way only, Pavlovian style. While we cannot avoid having

to react spontaneously in that knee-jerk way to these developments, it

would be wrong if we get stuck in that level. That would make us

slaves, not masters, of these developments and changes. We have to

stay away from the bad habit of improvising always.

  

            We need to come up with plans and strategies to give shape

and direction to all these things. That way, we would have some clear

vision of our goals and means and timetables involved. That way, we

would have a better grasp of how to identify and handle issues,

problems and challenges. That way, we would have a good sense of

priority, especially nowadays when we are faced with many competing

options.

   

            Making plans and strategies may require some time and

effort, but it’s an investment that is all worth it. The little time

and effort required can actually multiply our time and make our

efforts more productive at the end of the day. It’s like the little

rudder, St. James talks about in his letter, that has the power to

give direction to a big boat. (cfr 3,4)

  

            In these complicated times of ours with so many issues,

problems and challenges spewing out, the need for plans and strategies

have become more indispensable so that we can study them better and

know exactly what to do with them. The way things are now, these

issues, problems and challenges really need to be studied well, making

due consultations when necessary.

  

            It’s true that there are things that cannot be solved

anymore, humanly speaking, and that, therefore, we should also have a

healthy sense of abandonment in the hands of God. But this fact does

not excuse us from doing all we can to tackle them. Our faith and

trust in God’s providence should not replace our sense of duty.

  

            Our plans and strategies should include the time for

continuing study and formation, for prayers and also for rest. We

should never neglect these items, because without them we become

ineffective even if we are intense in our desires to help others.

              Especially in the area of guiding souls in spiritual

direction, making the appropriate plans and strategies are

indispensable. Guiding souls is a very delicate task that requires the

guide or spiritual director to bring things to his prayer, to discern

more deeply what the Holy Spirit is showing him.

              In making plans and strategies, there obviously are

calculated risks to be taken and experimentations to be made, and we

should not be afraid to do them and to face their consequences,

especially when they fail. We have to learn how to be game in this

life also, not wasting time brooding and feeling bad too long when

things don’t work as desired.

  

            Let’s hope that more and more people realize the need for

making plans and strategies.