“If the worries of life don’t swamp us, the upkeep will.”
~ Pastor Peter Kinsella
Elevation Church, Penrith, NSW.
How often do we hear ourselves telling each other “I’d love to, but I am just so busy!”? Is this some kind of twenty-first-century virus, or are people truly busier than they used to be?
When I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I remember not being so busy, and not just because I was just a wee girl. The adults around me weren’t as busy back then, compared to the ‘grown-ups’ of today. Children were allowed to be children.
To play, get horrifically dirty, laugh, sing, fight … anything at all that didn’t cost a lot of money.
Children were not expected to worry (even though some of us did).
So why are we so darned busy?
I do believe that we human beings have become obsessed with material and worldly objects and possessions. Most importantly, we have forgotten how to play!
For followers of Christ, we should realise that putting things above and ahead of Him is never going to lead to ongoing happiness. Even non-believers would notice that they are much happier when they aren’t rushing around from pillar to post, like ‘Tom and Jerry’ do in one of their skits.
Not that long ago, maybe only twenty years or so, life was so much simpler. Children were happy to play outside in the fresh air. In fact, children like my brother and I, never really wanted to go inside the house before sunset. Back then children didn’t need to be babysat by television sets, computers, Ipads, Ipods, smart phones and the like. Grown-ups didn’t mind owning a second-hand car or washing machine, and they especially weren’t fussed about owning the most up-to-date model of anything. They were just grateful to have whatever they had.
So what does having more than we know what to do with, have to do with being ‘crazy busy’ I hear you ask? It’s called maintenance! Everything needs to be maintained, and the more things we possess, the more cost and maintenance we will need to sacrifice.
There is a new buzz word this century, MINDFULNESS.
Hmmm … but is it really a new thought wave? Doesn’t being still for a while, taking in our surroundings, and expressing gratitude, amount to the same thing?
We really need to stop worrying and being distracted by the world.
“Now as they were travelling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and kept listening to what He was saying. But Martha was worrying about all the things she had to do, so she came to Him and asked, “Lord, you do care that my sister has left me to do the work all by myself, don’t you? Then tell her to help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. But there’s only one thing you need. Mary has chosen what is better, and it is not to be taken away from her.” ~ Luke 10:38-42
Until we stop being ‘crazy busy’ nothing of this life is going to make a lot of sense, and certainly, it won’t bring us happiness, short-term or long-term.
We will never find that beautiful peace if we are always busy doing things, buying things, owning things. We need to stop for a while, be still, and allow Christ to give us a kind of peace that the world can never offer us.
“And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:7
It has taken me until my sixtieth year to really get this. I’m not perfect, though I’m still working on ‘being still’. I love this quote: “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” ~ Ram Dass
What about you? Are you a Martha or a Mary? Are you rushing around day after day, paying heed to all this worldly stuff? Do you remember how to be quiet and still? Can you do it, just for a wee while? I would love to hear from you. Please feel welcome to share your thoughts.
Love and blessings,
Jo’Anne