Newton Editorial

Too Busy?

Are you too busy?

Probably nine out of 10 Americans would answer "yes" to this question, and the other 10 percent would be too busy to answer the survey.

What keeps you so busy?

Most Americans would respond: long work hours, shuttling the kids to activities, housework, etc., etc.

How does "busy"ness affect you negatively?

No time for relaxation? Sleep difficulties? Little sense of family? Constant feelings of anxiety and pressure? No time for yourself? Some or all of the above?

Too busy? It's a problem everyone feels, but few face honestly.

Americans fly through life on the wings of their Palm Pilots, borne aloft by the vague notion that they have no choice. So we live with our busyness. Rather than removing it we try to adapt.

The sleep industry is growing exponentially as we look for the perfect mattress to give our overcommitted bodies the "perfect rest." The fast-food industry serves its billions of hamburgers to people whose kitchen table is now the front and back seat of the car. Cleanliness used to be next to godliness; now it's next to impossible without hiring someone from "Molly Maid."

But is busyness really beyond our control? Are we too busy because of the expectations and responsibilities foisted on us by jobs, homes, families and all the other whatnots that are not what we have chosen?

Imagine yourself standing before God to explain why you are so busy. What would you say? And would He agree? Would He say the following? "I understand you are so busy that your emotions are frayed, your schedule is crammed and your family is fragmented. And it's OK, because there's nothing you can do about it."

I don't think so. Instead I think He would say something like this:

When I give you free will, that isn't a game. You really have choice. And when I give you 24 hours a day, you really have a choice about how to fill that time. In fact the exercise of choice is your greatest means of loving Me.

Now here's a list of facts to ponder:

1. You choose to let too many activities clutter your life.

Short list isn't it?

Believe Me, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I don't have three kids to run to soccer practice, piano lessons and band practice. You're thinking that you don't have a choice -- that all sorts of circumstances and responsibilities leave you with no choice.
Well, here's ... by the way, you got a minute? ... here's the ironic thing. If you would spend time doing the one thing that you don't think you have time to do -- which is to pray -- you'd have time to do the things you really need to do.

My, my, my ... that last sentence sounded way too much like the complex ones the Apostle Paul used to write. Let me back up and try again.

Pray, and busyness will go away. Oops, now I'm sounding like Jesse Jackson! But you get the point. There is a direct correlation between prayer and freedom from busyness.

Prayer is My invitation to a full, but not busy, life. Too many of My people relate to prayer as if it were one more thing they have to do. But I never intended prayer to go on anyone's "things to do" list. Rather, prayer is how you write your "things to do" list.

When you don't pray, everybody and his brother writes on your "things to do" list as if it were a signed blank check. You feel like you have no choice in the matter, because you've offered your life as a living sacrifice to everyone else's expectations.

Prayer is how you sign your life over to My expectations. It's how you discover what I want on your "things to do" list.

When you don't pray, it's like you're taking on a hundred bosses. When you do pray, you're reducing that number to just One. And since My day job is Lord of the Universe and My night job is Caretaker of My Creation, you can't go wrong with Me as a boss.

But, like I said, it is your choice. However, I am trying to make the choice attractive. So here's My promise. If you will come to Me, all of you who are weary of busyness and heavy laden, I will give you rest. Take My "things to do" list upon you and learn from Me. And I promise that you will find rest for your souls.

Prayer -- it's Weight Watchers for the "things to do" list.

Now if only I could get My church to go on the diet too.




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Too Busy? Are you too busy? Probably nine out of 10 Americans would answer "yes" to this question, and the other 10 percent would be too busy to answer the survey. What keeps you so busy? Most Americans would respond: long work hours, shuttling the kids to activities, housework, etc., etc. How does "busy"ness affect you negatively? No time for relaxation? Sleep difficulties? Little sense of family? Constant feelings of anxiety and pressure? No time for yourself? Some or all of the above? Too busy? It's a problem everyone feels, but few face honestly. Americans fly through life on the wings of their Palm Pilots, borne aloft by the vague notion that they have no choice. So we live with our busyness. Rather than removing it we try to adapt. The sleep industry is growing exponentially as we look for the perfect mattress to give our overcommitted bodies the "perfect rest." The fast-food industry serves its billions of hamburgers to people whose kitchen table is now the front and back seat of the car. Cleanliness used to be next to godliness; now it's next to impossible without hiring someone from "Molly Maid." But is busyness really beyond our control? Are we too busy because of the expectations and responsibilities foisted on us by jobs, homes, families and all the other whatnots that are not what we have chosen? Imagine yourself standing before God to explain why you are so busy. What would you say? And would He agree? Would He say the following? "I understand you are so busy that your emotions are frayed, your schedule is crammed and your family is fragmented. And it's OK, because there's nothing you can do about it." I don't think so. Instead I think He would say something like this: When I give you free will, that isn't a game. You really have choice. And when I give you 24 hours a day, you really have a choice about how to fill that time. In fact the exercise of choice is your greatest means of loving Me. Now here's a list of facts to ponder: 1. You choose to let too many activities clutter your life. Short list isn't it? Believe Me, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that I don't have three kids to run to soccer practice, piano lessons and band practice. You're thinking that you don't have a choice -- that all sorts of circumstances and responsibilities leave you with no choice. Well, here's ... by the way, you got a minute? ... here's the ironic thing. If you would spend time doing the one thing that you don't think you have time to do -- which is to pray -- you'd have time to do the things you really need to do. My, my, my ... that last sentence sounded way too much like the complex ones the Apostle Paul used to write. Let me back up and try again. Pray, and busyness will go away. Oops, now I'm sounding like Jesse Jackson! But you get the point. There is a direct correlation between prayer and freedom from busyness. Prayer is My invitation to a full, but not busy, life. Too many of My people relate to prayer as if it were one more thing they have to do. But I never intended prayer to go on anyone's "things to do" list. Rather, prayer is how you write your "things to do" list. When you don't pray, everybody and his brother writes on your "things to do" list as if it were a signed blank check. You feel like you have no choice in the matter, because you've offered your life as a living sacrifice to everyone else's expectations. Prayer is how you sign your life over to My expectations. It's how you discover what I want on your "things to do" list. When you don't pray, it's like you're taking on a hundred bosses. When you do pray, you're reducing that number to just One. And since My day job is Lord of the Universe and My night job is Caretaker of My Creation, you can't go wrong with Me as a boss. But, like I said, it is your choice. However, I am trying to make the choice attractive. So here's My promise. If you will come to Me, all of you who are weary of busyness and heavy laden, I will give you rest. Take My "things to do" list upon you and learn from Me. And I promise that you will find rest for your souls. Prayer -- it's Weight Watchers for the "things to do" list. Now if only I could get My church to go on the diet too.