The Undistracted Palm
I recently delved into the fascinating world of Leonardo Da Vinci's mind. Did you know he had hundreds of notebooks bursting with ideas for inventions, studies, paintings, and sculptures? The remarkable thing about Da Vinci wasn't just his genius but his peculiar habit of rarely finishing one project before jumping to another. His brilliant mind constantly churned with new concepts, leaving a trail of half-completed masterpieces.
Oh, how I feel a kinship with Leonardo! My desk drawer contains a notebook that's practically bursting with ideas for devotions, children's picture books, stories, and other literary ventures. Some mornings I wake with such clarity about a new book or story concept that I can hardly wait to scribble it down before it evaporates like morning dew.
"I'll finish my current project first," I tell myself firmly. Yet two hours later, I'm sketching outlines for the new idea while my half-edited manuscript sits neglected on my computer. Just this week, I've worked on an audiobook for my latest historical fiction novel, the illustrations for my newest children's picture book idea, started the publication process for another children's picture book I recently finished, written and edited a new devotional book for teen girls, created marketing videos for some of my existing books, blogged, and planned upcoming promotions for the holiday season. And all of that is in addition to my other ministry responsibilities. Good grief!
This morning during my quiet time with the Lord, I was studying the palm tree, a fascinating biblical symbol mentioned repeatedly throughout Scripture. Unlike the oak with its sprawling branches or the cedar with its impressive lateral spread, the palm tree has no branches at all. It doesn't extend to the right or left. It simply grows straight upward, perpetually focused on what's above.
"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree..." (Psalm 92:12)
What a convicting botanical lesson! While I'm zigzagging between ideas like an enthusiastic puppy chasing multiple tennis balls, the palm maintains its singular focus. No distractions. No veering off course. Just steady, consistent growth toward heaven.
I began to wonder how much more effective my ministry might be if I adopted the palm tree's singular focus. What if I committed to finishing each project before beginning another? What if my attention remained fixed above rather than constantly diverted by every creative breeze that blows my way?
Paul expressed this focused mindset perfectly: "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13-14).
"This one thing I do." Not these dozen things I attempt simultaneously. One thing!
Perhaps the real gift isn't having countless ideas but the discipline to nurture each one to completion. The palm tree doesn't produce fruit faster by trying to grow in multiple directions. It bears its sweet dates precisely because it remains steadfast, growing ever upward toward the sun.
Today, I'm making a commitment to be more like the palm tree—to keep my focus heavenward rather than scattered in all directions. I'll still record those inspired ideas, but I'll also develop the discipline to complete one work before beginning another. After all, a single completed book can touch more lives than a hundred brilliant concepts that never make it past my notebook.
Maybe Leonardo and I both need to learn that the greatest creativity often comes not from having endless ideas, but from seeing our best ones through to completion.