Usually, I have a lot of work on my desk, from writing to radio programs. Even though I have many projects, I can only do one at a time.
Some people can multitask, but that isn’t me. Often, it would be great if I could multitask and get a bunch of projects done at the same time. I have tried that, but it has not worked for me.
When it comes to multitasking, wife Martha, The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, is No. 1. I’m not sure how much she can do at once, but it’s more than I can even think of. When she’s doing one thing, she seems to be doing everything.
Now that we’re retired, her multitasking has grown even bigger. Whenever I walk by her craft room, I see her doing several things at once, and I’m not quite sure how she manages it.
As I learn a little more about this multitasking, I begin to understand Martha more.
For example, when she’s speaking to me, I really can’t follow all that she is saying because she is talking about at least six things at the same time. In her speaking, she does not have any 'periods.' Everything flows together, but I do not understand multitasking, so I do not understand what she is talking about.
Often she will say, 'Don't you remember what I said yesterday?'
When I am speaking, for example, I’m thinking about one particular thought. I usually don’t go beyond that one thought.
I’ve noticed Martha is speaking, she has many thoughts at that moment. Because I can’t multitask, I can’t figure out what she’s talking about. That’s what gets me into trouble all the time.
Often when she’s talking, she’ll stop and say, “Did you hear what I just said?”
I’m thinking, “Yes, but I haven’t been able to sort it out to find what you were talking about.”
I listen, but I can’t keep up with everything she says at the time. Much of what she says is unrelated to each other, which is why I’m often confused about what she’s saying.
I did find a secret to this multitasking in my relationship with her. Now that I know a little bit of how she multitasks, especially when she’s talking, I can pretend to understand and go along with it.
It does no good for me to try to sort out what she’s saying, because by the time I do, she’s on another multitasking talk.
This year, we celebrate our 55th anniversary. After all those years of being married, I’ve discovered that marital bliss isn’t about agreeing on everything.
Rather, it’s not contesting what you don’t understand at the time. Here’s a verse of scripture on this subject.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
— James 1: 19
This has become an important verse for me. I’m trying to focus on hearing and not on speaking. The less I speak the less trouble I get into. What could be better?
Dr. Snyder is a former pastor who lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage, wife Martha, in Ocala, Fla. His email is [email protected].
