Organized and Detail Oriented [D and O] are NOT bad words or actions – I did recognize this many moons ago. People who are organized and detail oriented are NOT uncreative or unspontaneous… they simply get the prep out of the way so it can be tweaked along the way, improved, and there is less chance that something will fall through the cracks. Tell me how you can change or improve on something if the something doesn’t exist in the first place!!!? It can’t! Personally I believe that the most vocal people against this quality [and YES it is a quality] are the ones who don’t want to take the time. It isn’t necessarily that they don’t know how… it’s that they don’t want the discipline.
My scriptural support is found in the parable of the 10 virgins. In Matthew 25:1-13
“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep. In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The\ bridegroom’s here! Go out and greet him! The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’ “They answered, “There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.“ They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When every one who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked. Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’ “He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’ So stay alert. You have no idea when He might arrive.” [MSG]
The Amplified Bible says: “Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].” That is the simplest example of why we should prepare. Personally, I believe further support is found in the parable about the talents: about the servant who was given 1 talent. He could have chosen differently, but didn’t. I also don’t think it was fear that prompted his behavior… it was laziness. Severe? Possibly… or not.
Actually… when you look at the benefits of being prepared, what’s so bad about this? If you have your draft (which is never done in a rush when you do it in advance) then you can use that as the beginning of your tweaking, what I like to call a ‘build upon’. Which is why I do love drafts.. they are the foundation, the structure that promotes creative tweaking. If you have no draft… then what? Am I now beating a dead horse. Perhaps. But the point is more than obvious. If you are the Organized and Detail type – never succumb to the criticism of those who aren’t. And if you are the ones that poke fun at O and D-ers. You might want to rethink this.
