Process [or] Product

It occurred to me as I was observing the monotonous project out back in our backyard at the joy over the process. We have been in our house almost 8 years and finally are doing our backyard landscaping. It is quite the project and I will put up pictures of 'before' and 'after' as soon as we finish. Our yard is about 5000 square feet and just under 3000 square feet of that is sod. This has been such a large project that I even took an entire week off vacation to work on it and at least 5 or so solid weekends and are finally just getting to the end results. I am anticipating the finished product very much which caused me to think about this idea:

What is better, the process or the finished product?

So many times...

 in our life/ministry/business we are so caught up with the finished product and focus so closely only on the details to accomplish the finale that we over look the entire process. Take my backyard for instance, I have spent so much time with my wife and my daughter Amberlyn in this project. If I failed to see the process I would fail to recognize the moments of life. When finished, I will have the product, my beautiful backyard, for years to come, but I will only experience the process once. Because I have stepped back to recognize the process I think how boring will life be when the yard is done, I only get to sit in it and relax, no more hard working process (that was kinda a joke, I really can't wait to enjoy grass instead of a dustbowl)!

For many of you leaders/pastors, think about that student or person that you are working with that has life issues. Is not the process as beautiful as the finished person? Is not your life of dismay, the process of refining, as great as the finished product. I live with no regrets because my mistakes (the process) are what helps me become who God has called me to be (the product).

You know what experiencing the process allows? Breath, yes just a fresh breath of air. Simply you can breathe a sigh of relief that there doesn't have to be so much pressure only for the end. Sure there are time restraints and delivery dates and presentations but the process is beautiful. Enjoy the beauty!

Take a moment, breathe, experience the process, let the product build, but enjoy the moments at hand.