“Richard, I have a deadline to submit a report for an upcoming critical meeting. Just send me something I can work with. Naawe,” (meaning “come on!” pleads with anticipation). Can you please send it within the next 30 minutes? A friend once reached out, stating that templates make life easier. By definition, the Cambridge dictionary defines a template as something used as a pattern for producing other similar things.
I like the word “pattern.” Why? Because a pattern confirms something repetitive to extract something of value. What does this mean? Before we delve deeper, let’s consider these facts. When something happens for the first time, it’s called an accident. When it happens the second time, it’s a coincidence, and when it happens the third time, it’s a pattern. The fourth time? A trend.
Let’s focus on the third occurrence, which is a pattern.
A friend once asked me why I have to keep doing things from scratch. “Why not just get a template and make life easier?” he said. I told him I want to build things from the ground up. “Why should I always think of benchmarking? I want things done by myself in their original form,” I explained. He replied in exclamation mode, eyes wide open, as if his jaw had just dropped, and said, “Aah…you are just old school!” I retorted, “Okay, leave the old-school me alone!”
Templates have their place. This is what they do for many:
– Saving time.
– Consistency.
– Simplicity.
– Efficiency.
– Plug and play.
– Easy on the go.
Templates are useful only because there lies a process, and patterns are what crystallize their true importance. Oh yes. Why do I have to do something repetitively if I have always done it the same way? Let me design a template.
Templates of Processes: The Christian Perspective
The Lord God Almighty works with templates. Let’s see how.
Elijah the Prophet: Elijah, the prophet of fire, was aware of patterns. In 1 Kings 17:17 and 1 Kings 18, Elijah prophesied a drought would occur for three years in Israel, and indeed it did. At the peak of the drought, after three years, he prophesied its end. He fervently prayed before sending his servant to check for signs of rain. The servant checked multiple times, and it wasn’t until the seventh time that a tiny cloud appeared, signaling the end of the drought. The lesson? Some things will move if you enter the process of pattern. The template? Fervent prayer.
Elisha the Double Portion Anointed: In 2 Kings 5, Naaman, a respected and wealthy Syrian general with leprosy, sought Elisha’s help. Elisha instructed him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman was initially skeptical, but after obeying, he experienced total deliverance on the seventh time. The lesson? Obedience to the word that God has given through his servants. The template? Seven times in obedience.
Jesus Christ and the Lord’s Prayer: In Matthew 6:1-13, Jesus cautions his disciples against following empty templates of prayer. Instead, he emphasizes sincerity and devotion. He provides the Lord’s Prayer as a template, teaching the importance of sincerity and intimacy in prayer.
In conclusion, templates have their place, and God also uses them for his glory.
Until next time.
I just thank God for this insight. It has helped me so much and view many areas of my life and determined that I need to create templates.
Thanks brother Richard Mwebesa for always giving our lives quality directives.