I'm not talking about miles per gallon, energy ratings or carbon footprints, or anything green or earth-friendly. I'm talking about the ability to complete a task in record time; minimizing waste. In physics, efficiency is defined as "useful work per unit of energy." I smile at that.
Honestly, I don't just admire efficiency, it is a personal mantra; I seek it out.
For example: I consider EVERY Walmart trip an experiment in efficiency. List in hand, I analytically map out my path through the store in logical order, as if guided by Garmin. I whiz through the aisles, well-versed in the fastest, least-travelled routes, so as to avoid the lollygaggers and the indecisive, loitering in the aisles. I even go so far as to LOOK DOWN on the inefficient. "Silly slow people. Honestly, how do they get anything done in a day?" I mutter to myself.
At our trip to Disneyworld years ago, we traversed the parks in clockwise fashion, as most Americans tend toward a counter-clockwise approach. I load the dishwasher while I cook (the cooking suffers, I admit). I have finely honed the ability to speak at break-tongue speed, so as to dictate my clinic notes in rapid auctioneer fashion. I even figured out how to simultaneously use the Medela double breast pump and apply makeup, one-handed and without a mirror (yes, eyeliner, by feel).
I do recognize that there are significant drawbacks to seeking efficiency:
1) the careless error-- I remember thinking about this blog topic while in the shower one morning, proverbially patting myself on the back for fine-tuning my future composition: I shower; I blog, ha HA! The shower is admittedly a common location for my habit of multitasking. I like to wash my face while the conditioner ages on my hair, like fine wine. This particular morning, whilst mentally composing this very blog, I completely lost track of my sequence and accidentally shampooed with my Neutrogena anti-blemish anti-wrinkle face wash. Nice.
2) clumsiness-- when one walks at TOP speed everywhere, there are bound to be a few stumbles (See asterisk, below).
3) annoying others-- perhaps you are in this category; if so, I do apologize. When one is intently focused on his/her ability to compete a task in record time, one tends to ignore, disregard, or dismiss others.
Bordering on pathology, huh? Manic? Selfish? Funny thing is, no one gives out any medals for efficiency: "most streamlined" is no senior superlative. (*I actually was awarded "most uncoordinated" among my own senior class.)
The sad thing is that this world indirectly rewards this behavior. The expiditious are more productive at work, and, consequently, earn more. Completing more tasks results in promotion: further monetary reinforcement. Then again, getting more work done in less time results in more home, personal, and family time. There are some honest benefits.
I must admit that I truly enjoy a hectic work schedule. I get a rush from feeling pressured, raced, and well...rushed. Adrenaline. Energy. Rhythm. Drive. Determination. Ambition. Focus. (Now I sound like one of those cheesy "teamwork" business posters with the skydivers.)
I am realizing that efficiency is a deeply-ingrained, distinctly worldly concept, and that there is ABSOLUTELY no Biblical foundation for it. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, efficiency, right? WRONG. The Bible does warn against idleness, but it does not praise efficiency.
In fact, consideration for others may stand in direct contradiction, and I find myself wrestling with my calling to serve others, and my need to be as efficient as possible. As a physician, I've learned that maintaining frequent eye contact with my patients goes a long way, while my hands perform physical exam and testing procedures as if on autopilot. Personal and efficient? Maybe. I also consider it a personal achievement if I can hit 5th gear on 5th Avenue en route to work, but when I pass the elderly walkers on the sidewalks at the nearby Village independent living facility, I downshift and "drive neighborly" until I round the corner. Out of courtesy, I wouldn't want to disrespect or upset my elders. Despite this, I sometimes wonder if I am the 'bad Samaritan.' Am I the one crossing the street to avoid the slow-downs, the diversions, the needy? Or perhaps efficiency affords more opportunity for good? Time will tell...but only if I use it wisely.
The difficulty is when we find our value in our efficiency. The only way to matter, then, is to do more, and do it better. The truth is that we are much more than the sum of our deeds divided by the time it took us to complete them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the key is to be efficient at the right things...
"We are much more than [insert work here]"... has always been a weakness of mine. To imply that something has inherent value apart from works, simply because it is a creation of God-- that is a tough concept for me. I'd have made a great Pharisee.
ReplyDeleteHey Michele!
ReplyDelete(Uncle) Keith here. You sound like an engineer, always looking for a way to optimize LOL! I here you. I'm with you. I've just been put in charge of a group of people and my job is to make all of them more efficient. I'm living / breathing efficiency. To me, efficiency is like money - it's not inherently bad, but the way we use it can be bad. If we're efficient so we have more time for the things that truly matter, it is good. If we push important things aside in the interest of getting more done, we're losers. Much of my time I'm a big loser. At work, I find it a challenge sometimes to continue to listen to people and to affirm their basic worth while they're babbling on and I have things to get done. Same at home.
*sigh*
While hiking in CO (sorry we couldn't make it up to see you guys) I had this huge "self worth" epiphany. It was hot, we were in the desert, sun beating down, out of water, tired. I saw turkey vultures circling like they always do. It hit me that what I deserve is to be left out there and to be come vulture food. There really is nothing inside me worth saving. Then a breeze hit me. It was warm, but the low humidity made it cooling just the same. The hat on my head kept me cool and the boots on my feet make walking much easier. In the moment I was very aware of God's provision despite my utter lack of worthiness. He should have stripped me naked and left me as critter food. Instead he sent a breeze to cool me and beautiful scenery to lift my heart.
*sigh* :-)