I'm Busy

How often would you say you use this phrase, "I'm busy!"? It's become a badge of honor, because if you're busy, that must mean you're important. You have things to do, you are needed, and you are liked. I do something, I have something and therefore, I am something. You may even spend the extra minutes to post it on social media so everyone can know how important of a person you really are.

Now, before I go any further, there's a caveat. I'm going to deviate from the point for just a moment, but I promise it'll all tie together soon.

Sometimes, school gets cancelled because of weather related issues. As parents, perhaps we're annoyed at the adjusting of our day. But, in those moments, I think about single parents and then I check my annoyances.

Is there a chance that those single parents, upon hearing about a snow day for their kids completely messes with their world in very serious ways? Maybe they have 2-3 jobs to try and make ends meet. Maybe, they're also doing online or night school to equip themselves for an even better opportunity, while simultaneously seeking care for their kids. Maybe they risk losing their job if they take one more day off to stay at home with their kids during the snow day.

Recently, we had a snow day. Later that evening, I decided to take my family to get some pizza for dinner. I looked over and saw what looked to be a mother and her elementary-aged son. I noticed the son falling asleep on his mother's lap as it was getting late. She was eating a slice of pizza, trying to stay caffeinated, and working diligently on her computer. Every time I looked over, she was hard at work, focused, but also looked exhausted. I wondered about their story. I wondered, "Did this snow day throw them off completely? Did she have to find care for her son all day while she was working? Or did she hang out with her son all day and now that he's winding down, she's furiously trying to catch up on work? Or maybe she's doing online education? Does she need the wifi of this public restaurant because there's no wifi at their residence? Maybe they can't afford it?" These are the questions that go through my mind when I observe people in public places. Not judgment, but wonder; sometimes, even compassion, if I'm thinking beyond my own needs.

I could be totally right or totally wrong about this person's story or I could be partially right. Either way, there are definitely people in our world where this is their reality, and then I think to myself, "Comparatively, I'm not busy!" I am afforded the same 24 hours in a day as everyone else. We make choices what to do with that time, and then sometimes, for those who have been dealt a different set of circumstances, those choices are much more limited. So, what should I do in a situation like what I experienced in that restaurant? Maybe that's a topic for another blog.

Let's talk about you for a moment. When you say, "I'm busy!" Why do you say that? What's the motivation behind letting someone else know? Are you proving something? Is it just something to say to make small talk? If you're a parent that has kids in multiple extra-curricular activities, are the activities for you or for them? Do you find yourself becoming a glorified chauffeur for your family? Is it giving you life, joy, energy, and fulfillment? Is it causing you to be more like Jesus?

For those of you who never stop working; even when you come home, your cell phone is front of you while eating a meal--checking another email or responding to a text. Can it wait? Do you actually feel more productive as long as you're getting stuff done?

How much time in a day do you just sit and look off into the distance or just allow your mind to think or wander or intentionally meditate? Perhaps you pulled a face when you read that last question. Why, on earth, would I do that? This is America where we get stuff done! You're right. Our culture has conditioned us to work ourselves to the bone without ever stopping, because nobody wants to be called lazy. We interpret work as incessant activity and movement. When someone tells us to rest, we interpret that as the opposite of productivity, because rest is the absence of activity; and activity breeds productivity in our culture. At least, that's what we've been led to believe. We have been conditioned to live a hurried and busy life. Not only is it allowed, it's also expected; it's even celebrated, and we get more of what we celebrate--being busy.

Luke 5:16 (NIV) says that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." There are several other similar verses like this one throughout the Gospel narratives. They are easy to miss because they are very short verses and not all that quotable; nobody makes these verses their "life verse." The verses usually fall in the "in-between" times of Jesus' productivity of "gettin' stuff done." But, what if these times of Jesus' intentional loneliness and rest were actually crucial to the other, more memorable verses recounting His work and mission of the Kingdom? In fact, come to think of it, I don't ever remember reading a Bible verse where Jesus said, "I'm busy!" He said, "No" to things, but not because he was appealing to His busyness or trying to prove His worth in society.

There seems to be so much intentionality in the rhythm of Jesus' life. Do we follow that rhythm? Do we withdraw to lonely places for reflection, prayer and meditation, rest, and renewal? Or, do we continue to buy into the lie that we must be either doing something at all times or staring at a screen in the down times and the in-between times in order to be productive member of society? It's not just a spiritual lie, but a neurological one as well. Our brains physically cannot handle the pace that our culture has projected onto us and still be healthy--mind, body, soul, and strength (i.e. All the things with which Jesus told us to love God). You can read about that more in The God-Shaped Brain or How God Changes Your Brain.

Your activity or your kids' activities don't define the person you are becoming. You don't have to say, "I'm busy" anymore to prove your worth to people. May I challenge us in this season that many churches call "Lent," to give up the habit of saying how busy we are? Be intentional with your rhythms in order to reflect on God and reflect God to others.

But also, remember that your busy-ness is relative to the community around you. Who around you needs your help? Is there someone in your midst that has a harder uphill climb to make ends meet for themselves or their family, and so the concept of rest seems much less attainable? Perhaps, they are legitimately busy and it's somewhat out of their control.

When we share in the experience of the restful rhythm of Jesus together--this may seem radical to say, but--we will actually be greater contributors to our families, our work, our education, our communities and the overall Kingdom of God.

Post a comment of confession to your own busy-ness. Share how God is teaching you about rest and rhythm.



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