Seems I’ve always seen people in one of three ways—thinkers, feelers, or doers. Simple, I know, and not entirely accurate, because people are complicated—never neatly fitting into categories.
I’m a doer. I love getting things done and thrive on motion. My patron saint is St. Caffeine who helps me do all I can do. My mantra—courtesy of NIKE: Just do it!
All this was again confirmed to me a few days ago by someone asking me what is it I like to do when not working? My reply— was awkward and unsure like stringing beads with my left hand—sailing, scuba diving, tennis, running at the gym, basketball, motorcycle riding, swimming, skiing, traveling, and hunting.
Hearing my own reply made me realize that while I’m not ADHD, I am a card-carrying, board certified doer. Most of my pastor friends have their weekend messages done on Wednesday or Friday—but not me. I’m still working on them early Sunday morning. Doing is to blame. I get antsy and so leave the books, research, thinking, and go after some project—a mouse to trap, a deck to paint, a graduation to attend. My deadlines look like those people who should never wear spandex—stretching out beyond the seemly. O help me St. Caffeine.
So my confession is that as a doer I find rest hard. Even writing this post has found me up fiddling with the TV, or trying to find out why the hawk outside is distressed, or going out on the patio to find something to do. Crazy weird.
So I suspect you “feelers” and “thinkers” have it easier. Doesn’t living a life of rest, devotions, and praying come easier for you? Don’t you already have your foot in the door—paused to think though a situation or parked long enough to tune into those inner feelings?
Sabbath and Sabbaticals 
Response: In a word? “Yup.” :-p
Alternate response:
Watch out, Padre’ Tom. You just may:
a) provoke the thinkers into pondering and analyzing the percentage in which they perform an action versus think
b) stir the feelers into emoting or assessing whether this message “resonates with their sense of self”
c) or incite the doers into impulsively typing a wise-acre response to your post.
Or all three, the first two of which are accomplished restfully, of course. :->
By: Mc Chavez on June 17, 2010
at 9:57 pm
I’m right there with you, Tom. While reading your post, I was also getting distracted: checking Tim’s fight from the other night, looking at my calendar, calculating how much work I need to get done before I can go read, and wondering if you still drink a double tall, extra hot, nonfat latte. Even during my devotion time this morning, I jumped up several times to watch Laker game highlights with Anthony. When you figure out the secret to training yourself to be a feeler/thinker, be sure to let us know!
By: Daniella on June 18, 2010
at 5:27 am
Doers need thinkers and feelers. I am also a doer…and am out of my element when not doing, which is why I have volunteered to work at weddings, at church events, even at sporting events that my kids participate in. I’d prefer to do than to watch. Taking 20 minutes to ice my back is really challenging because it means being still. (I fall asleep, usually).
I am encouraged when I see that the Holy Spirit is likened to the wind…which is definitely in motion somewhere at all times. Hoping you recognize the blast as you motorcycle, or add last minute touches to your messages…and appreciate the variety of thinkers and feelers, if you can stop long enough to recognize them!
By: Pam Martinez on June 18, 2010
at 7:33 am
I think my patron saint must be St. Tea then! Thanks for sharing all these posts. I’ve really enjoyed reading them as someone who is still on sabbatical. So good to spend a small part of my sabbatical with you precious folk. Thank you.
By: Liz Babbs on November 8, 2011
at 2:51 pm