The Tyranny of the Urgent vs. The Necessity of the Moment

Ever find yourself in the midst of a snaking line of people reaching beyond sight in each direction? Security tape, ever intrusive airport security guards, slow-as-snail checkpoints, the discomfort of body odour that you know is not yours, people packed elbow to elbow, and the sudden overwhelming realization -- I have to go! Now! Nature is calling and there's no chance for leaving a message.
Usually I can "hold it" and I hate stopping for anything whether driving, working, or whatever I am focused on the task at hand. "Just get through security and I'll have lots of time to go on the other side," I tried to convince myself as I began to break out in a cold sweat. I hate losing my place in line...I found myself ignoring my bodies warning sights of discomfort (which normally is not a problem) until they reached a borderline explosive pain from my bladder to my kidneys. After an embarrassing exchange with a very helpful and graciously understanding security guard, I was relieved and back in line. However, upon examining the line, I found that I had lost more spaces "holding it" than if I had gone before the line at the first bodily warning message.
I learned some important lessons (at least upon reflection - whether I learned enough to change my future behaviour is yet to be determined). First, always listen to your body before it's too late. This should be obvious but I can be pretty "thick" sometimes (my wife would be happy to verify if there's any doubt). I am not as young as I used to be and cannot do what I used to do - a painful lesson that sooner learned will save the body and mind even though it leaves a scar on the pride. The second lesson contrasts the message of the "Tyranny of the Urgent" (an article assigned our student leaders for a class I teach tomorrow) which teaches that the immediate is not always the priority and can steal time and effectiveness. I learned that sometimes I need to listen to the moment. Take time for the urgent or it will grow to the unbearable. Sometimes as I rush through life micro-managing each moment into a sense-dulling frenzy of apparent accomplishment I need to attend to the here and now. I need to lay aside my single focus for a potentially more important moment at hand. Take some time to reflect, seek balance, live prepared for every moment, and by all means go when you've got to go!