The Parking Lot
If you've ever gone 'round and round, circling a parking lot while it's raining cats and dogs,
looking for that perfect parking spot that would enable you make it indoors without getting
soaked to the skin and your socks and shoes full of water, you can imagine my skepticism with
the idea of a "parking lot" in a meeting. "We're gonna put that issue in the parking lot" sounds
like code for "not in this lifetime, sister."
After I ran across the phrase in several business productivity books and in planners designed to
help me stay on top of things, I decided to take another look at the Parking Lot. As a
solopreneur, I don't often have to deal with others' ideas or concerns in a meeting (even though,
as you may know, the voices in my head probably would benefit from a parking lot, too!).
However, I recently became a team leader within a ministry, and when a large team of strong
women get together, there are lots and lots of concerns, issues, opinions, and ideas! How do you
validate and affirm the people with whom you are working while also moving meetings and
action along toward your goal?
"But what about..." or "I know this isn't on the agenda, but can we talk about..." are the clues
that we may be going off on a tangent, so as the leader it's my job to determine if we follow the
rabbit or agree to chase it either later in the meeting or on another day. The language of that
may sound like, "Let's put a pin in that topic," or "hold that thought for a few minutes," or
"let's circle back to that." Circling... like a parking lot, until we find a good place to park and
discuss further. Acknowledging the topic is worth exploring, and that, while time doesn't permit
it just now, it deserves a later look, is a good way to let people know their ideas are heard and
their contributions to the well-being of your organization are appreciated.
As I've read more about the parking lot, I realize that a parking lot would be a useful tool for
many things besides tangents in a meeting. In fact, I've been using a parking lot for quite a
while, even as a solopreneur!
I have a parking lot for my personal ideas. Do you have a repository for your ideas? A place to
write down those flashes of brilliance that usually come in the shower or just as you are falling
asleep at night? I keep a small clipboard and pen beside my bed because ideas come to me when
I get relaxed and ready to fall asleep. I pull my clipboard up and scribble in the dark across the
lines of the page. It's not neat, sometimes barely legible, but it's clear enough to recall what I
was thinking in that twilight time of my mind.
I also carry a small notebook with me that fits in every purse, large or small. It's a separate little
notebook only for flashes of brilliance. (Not that everything is brilliant, mind you, but how will
I know until I write them down and try them out!) While I'm taking sermon notes in a large
notebook, I'll think of a scripture that applies to business or some tidbit of wisdom that needs
further attention. I write that in my little purse notebook. While I'm sitting in Panera waiting for
a client, some overheard conversation contains a nugget, and it goes in the notebook. When I
get home, I can take out that little book and evaluate and store those thoughts.
I keep a notepad handy during my devotion time. I often journal during and after my meditation
and prayer time, and I write down my thoughts and prayers. Often the thing I'm seeking God
about will become crystal clear. This is the next step. I write it down. When I'm reading, when
a quote inspires or challenges me, I write it down on for later exploration.
All these collections are parking lots for ideas. After collecting them, I refine them and place
them in an appropriate file.
I have a file for possible podcast topics, teaching topics, and next steps with clients, and a note
on my phone where I list grocery items I recall. I park those ideas where I can grab them when I
need them and make use of them.
My parking lot is also a strategy for dealing with attention deficit, overthinking, fear, and
overwhelm. Rather than circling circling circling with the "what abouts" and "what ifs" that are
in my mind, I park those thoughts on paper. It's funny how putting them down on paper tends to
diminish their impact.
When I need to focus and do deep work, the distractions of the next thing can be parked for
later attention. When I can see the big picture (think: a shopping mall of options!), I start
mapping out the steps like a parking lot.... Section A, B, C, and the most important or most
expedient steps up front, close to the door.
When I park my fears on a list... let's say I'm afraid you'll think this idea is stupid! After I write
it down, I can see it for what it is: something over which I have no control, and if it's not
helpful for you today, maybe it will be in the future (didn't I think it was silly at first?), OR
maybe this one just isn't for you. Fear squashed. Like a bug in a parking lot. :)
Would you believe we can also park our feelings? It takes a bit of self-control, but it can be
done. Back in my sales days, I attended a training on compartmentalization. The trainer
emphasized that we can close the door on feelings when we need to show up for work or hold
space for another person. It's why when Mommy is mad at Daddy for something, she can close
the door on that feeling to be present with little Johnny who's riding his bike for the first time.
Not all the doors need to be open all the time! She can open that door for Daddy later in private.
My observation is that we spend a lot of time telling people their feelings are valid and real and
should be acknowledged, but we don't train them what to DO with their feelings. As one
mentor puts it, "Facts are not feelings, and feelings are not facts." Rather than acting on every
feeling as it comes, we can park them, and gain perspective with a little time.
Case in point... This morning my husband asked me why I was being such a grouch! The reason
I was being grouchy is that my mind was on a meeting I have this week that may get
uncomfortable at best and contentious at worst. I'm already measuring and practicing my words
in my head to communicate clearly and compassionately, but I have anxiety about it. Truth is,
it's a circling scenario in my mind that needs to be parked. I don't need to take that anxiety with
me into my other relationships or my responsibilities for today.
You may think this is like procrastination, but it isn't. It's thought management. Preserving
your focus, your ideas, your relationships by parking your thoughts and feelings in a safe place
until you can give them the attention they need. Just like you'd do in a meeting with co-workers
or your team.
2 Corinthians 10:5 reminds us to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ. Not
always to do in the face of strong ideas or feelings. Our thoughts and feelings have a tendency
to take on a life of their own. It reminds me of Moses getting ready to cross the Red Sea, and he
tells the Israelites to "park it right here, y'all!"
Exodus 14:10-14: As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the
Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11 They said to
Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to
die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn't we say to you in Egypt,
'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the
Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
13 Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance
the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never
see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Here's an idea, they said. You shoulda left us back in Egypt. We're scared to death, and what
are we gonna do about it. Moses says, Put a pin in that. Let's park that for now and see what
happens. Take a breath; stand firm and check out what God is gonna do. Then we'll talk about
what you think and feel in this tense moment.
I've parked my upcoming meeting in the "stand firm" category, bathed in prayer, humility, and
trust that as Paul wrote, "having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:13.
I've parked the ideas that come to me in files of potential. I believe them to be whispers from
the divine that He'll instruct me to use when it's time.
I've parked my fears of inadequacy as a leader, of failure, and of not making progress, in my
prayer journal to be discussed with the Creator and Source of all things, because "in him, all
things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)
The parking lot is gonna be a useful thing to have in my life and business. Have you built one
for your ideas, thoughts, feelings?
Father,
All through Your Word, You tell us to wait, wait on you. I have a feeling that You knew we'd
need to circle around a time or two for some things. Thank you for giving us ways to deal with
ideas, fears, confrontations, overwhelm, opposing counsel... all the things that might distract us
from our goals, that would hinder our work. The parking lot is our call to rest in You, give You
time to work in, for, and through us, to accomplish Your plans.
Oh! Your plans...in Your parking lot waiting for us to trust you! Help me lean into believing
that You hold it all together, and nothing will escape Your sovereign will. Everything doesn't
have to happen, to be TODAY. I'll wait on you to renew my strength, so that I can fly on the
wings of eagles.
In Your name I pray,
Amen.
