The saying goes that "successful people don't work harder, they work smarter".

It is about using our time wisely, finding the best methods to create the best results. It is also said that eighty percent of our best results come from twenty percent of our efforts. Logically therefore we need to concentrate on that twenty percent of effort and ditch the eighty percent that isn't really giving us much in the way of reward. Think about how much time we would have if we only used one fifth of our efforts to create broadly the same results.

So how do we determine what actually is working and what is not?

This really requires us to analyse what we are doing. Much of what we do is routine. We do things without really giving it any thought. By closely looking at how we do things, monitoring it, writing our actions and results down we can start to see a picture emerging. In fact putting things to pen and paper is a wonderful tool that can paint the true picture of our lives. Whether it be about the money we spend, the food we eat or in this case the work we perform, it's surprising what can be revealed about our lives.

Once we can see where our efforts are wasted we can do something about it and get greater benefit from our time.

My time over the next two weeks will be divided into two. The first week I will be spending with my family and whether or not I deserve this holiday, my family do.

The second week I am heading off to Romania with a team of eight people from two of the churches in Tenterden. We are going to be involved in a project set up by a charity called "Cry in the Dark". The project is one of building an extension to an orphanage that is home to children with learning difficulties. The orphanage has been operational now for several years and the children are becoming adults. But they are adults still with learning difficulties and the charity has pledged to provide them a home for the rest of their lives. Consequently the need for larger accommodation to cater for their growing needs requires this extension to be built. The team is spending a week helping on this project doing what ever building work or labouring that is required of us.

Anybody who starts and runs a successful charity must have faith. Faith in themselves and in God that the funds will come in and the volunteers will be found to keep the project going.

In this case the faith appears to be justified.

How fantastic is that?

Terry Norrington

www.whatisthemeaningoffaith.com