Weekly Thought – December 23, 2025
Fred enjoyed analogies to express principles. He recognized illustrations everywhere which made their way into his speaking, teaching, and writing. When asked about the timeless, yet timely nature of his communication he replied, “Principles never change – just the illustrations.”
Ample Amps For A Productive Life
We are always warned by the electric company to avoid overloading the circuits. This is good advice, even though I wonder about the value of multiple plugs on Mary Alice’s kitchen outlets. Because she would never fill a plug with five or six appliances simultaneously, there is no danger of maxing the circuitry. We get in overload trouble by using more at one time than common sense would dictate. Maxing out is an exercise in poor decision making.
The same thing happens in our lives. We get overloaded by having too many demanding involvements, emotional experiences, or commitments of time – all at one time. When we do so, we blow a fuse! It isn’t how many connections you have on a circuit, it is how many are used together. The potential for overload is key. Sometimes we can take on multiple activities so long as none of them requires too much “juice” or too many are demanding power simultaneously. When each of the activities competes for our energy, the current is overloaded and we are in danger. It is not the number of tasks, but the net energy required that determines the point of overload.
We draw different amounts of current depending on the emotional or physical output required. For example, I used to speak to very large audiences, and it took practically no energy because the input was matched by the output. If there had been no positive input, such as friendly reactions, laughs, agreement, body language expressing interest, and appropriate applause from the audience it would have taken a great deal more output from me.
You must reach a balance where the amount that you give and the amount you receive are equivalent. In other words, it is a zero sum energy game. We burn out when we are not sharing the energy load in the task, whether intellectual, emotional, physical, or spiritual. A young friend told me an older man once told him it was time for him to stand on his own, not ride piggyback!
This week carefully consider: 1) In what condition is my circuitry (Intellectual, emotional, physical, spiritual)? 2) What tasks drain energy and lead to overload? 3) What part am I playing in carrying the load in my family, workplace, and church?
Words of Wisdom: “It is not the number of tasks, but the net energy required that determines the point of overload.”
Wisdom from the Word: “‘Not by strength, nor by might, but by my Spirit’ says the Lord who rules over all.” (Zechariah 4:6 NET Bible)