As I write, my German Short-haired Pointer is waging her daily war on my sanity.  She’s been working on this project for quite some time now.  What project are you working on?

This morning, the game goes something like this.  She has found a glove and taken it into my bedroom to destroy it.  Of course I get up to retrieve the glove.  Then, having placed it where she cannot reach it, she produces another.  Then another.  And another.  Her goal is to make me aware that she thinks a walk outside will be much more fun than remaining inside and relaxing with coffee and a pen.

Today lets talk about major projects or a long obedience in the same direction.  Author and Pastor Eugene Peterson did not craft this phrase, Nietzsche did.  For our own sake, lets define a major project as: that which cannot be completed in one sitting…unless of course its the last sitting.  As a biblical principle perhaps it’s best defined as dilligence.  My father-in-law would call it pottering.

Again, what are your major projects?  Perhaps you’re working on a book or an advanced degree.  These are projects that cannot be completed in one sitting.  (My dog just stole another glove).  They each require, in the words of Nietzsche, a long obedience in the same direction.

Here are just a few things I’ve learned about major projects.

-Most major projects begin with a sound design.  No design, no project.  They may take the form of written plans, blueprints or a picture.  Maybe even a dream.  All of these things provide a visualization of what your project will look like once it’s completed.

-Major projects are easier to accomplish when you break them down into parts or steps.  You eat an elephant one forkful at a time.  You complete major projects one step at a time.  That will leave you with the exploded view similar to the parts diagram that came with your lawnmower.

-You have the full picture, you break it down.  Now you have to put it all back together again and put a bow on it.  This is probably the most difficult stage.  It’s easy to imagine something and easier yet to start gathering materials.  For example, you imagine going back to school, so you sign-up for classes.  Then you falter when it’s time to make a deadline or complete a class.  In some cases, you may not earn the degree.

At this point, I’m ready to help Scout (my dog) work on her major project.  She just finished chewing a piece of linoleum, eating a chunk of flip-flop and now she’s chewing a pen.  If only I was as persistent.  I’m not sure what her major project is but if I don’t help her accomplish it, I won’t have a house left.  Once she comes back from her daily run at the park she’ll be docile as a lamb.  Until then, I’d better grab her leash and a coat.