"I Just Muddle Through"

From time to time I have asked a person how he's doing. Sometimes a person will reply, “well I just muddle through.” At other times one may say, “well I'm just plodding along.” What's the difference between “muddling through” and “plodding along”? Neither are going anywhere, or getting anything done in much of a hurry, that's for sure, but would I rather do one as opposed to the other? Let's take a look at what Merriam-Webster has to say about these two words. To “plod” is to work laboriously or monotonously, or to walk heavily or slowly, or to proceed slowly or tediously. To “muddle” means to think or to act in a confused or aimless manner. I believe I'll take plodding. I certainly have done my share of muddling.

Most days I have a great deal of work to accomplish, often more than can be done in a day. There have been plenty of times where I was not focused and unable to stay on task. I move from one thing, to another and then to another. At the end of the day (sometimes days) I have a big ugly pile of unfinished work, things that have been started but not finished, calls that I have not returned and emails to which I have not replied. As Charlie Brown would say... Arrrggghhh! The muddling disease has stuck again. Have you ever suffered from this.

"I Can Plod..."

Now let us look at the “plodder”. There are other days when I plod. I hope they outnumber the days that I muddle. When I plod I don't get a lot done quickly, but things do get accomplished. Remember, the plodder moves along slowly and deliberately. When I plod, I don't get anywhere fast, but I do get to my destination. Do not confuse the  plodder with one who is lazy or lethargic. He appears to plod because the size of the job makes the progress of one person seem very small. However, like water dripping over rocks, the plodder slowly wears away the mountainous task.

I don't feel badly about being a plodder. I don't feel badly about it because I once read about life of William Carey. To many, he is considered the father of modern missions. He was a missionary to India in the 1800's and endured great hardship and at times, tragedy in his personal life. At one point was noted to have said, “I can plod. I can persevere to any definite end.” If he could persevere with purpose in all of the great difficulties he endured, who am I to get frustrated that I'm not getting instant, “microwave oven” results? The key for Carey and for us is that we have a definite end or a definite aim. When I fall into the “muddling puddle” it is because I have lost my focus. I have been distracted away from important things by seemingly urgent-yet-unimportant things.

As my 45th birthday rolls around in the next couple of weeks I'm realizing more and more that I only have a limited amount of time on this planet. My “three-score and ten” is ten years past being half-way. No more muddling! From here on out I'm a plodder! Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)