“We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.”  (Psalm 39:6)

It turned out to be a much different day than I had anticipated.  It was light on schedule, almost a free one with only a single appointment arranged for late that afternoon.  A friend who was having outpatient surgery had turned down my offer of transportation, so I called an older friend to fulfill a promise I had made the week before. When I got his voicemail, I left a message. I now found myself with several hours of unplanned activity.  It was a beautiful autumn afternoon, and I knew that if no one or nothing else was waiting for me, the fallen leaves in my yard were certainly in need of attention.  So for an hour or so, I raked leaves and had some lunch. Then my friend who had surgery sent me a text and asked if we could go for a walk. The older friend to whom I had made that promise retuned my call and indicated he would be free later to get together.  I completed a quick errand to the grocery story, and ran into someone else who wanted to talk. A relative reached out for my help with a small emergency, and suddenly my unscheduled day was filled with busyness. It happens to all of us from time to time, as we allow our days to become consumed with self-imposed schedules which can become suffocating.

There is nothing wrong with being busy, but how we prioritize our ‘busy-ness’ will determine our life journey outcomes. In our society, busyness has become somewhat of a status symbol. After all, the busier we are – the more important we seem to be. Or so some would think. While our busyness often begins with good intentions, we can become addicted to our routines, and the search for the joys of life become the burdens of our existence. When I once tried to explain to a friend why I hadn’t been in touch, I will always remember his response. It was simply, “We make time in our lives for the things that are important.” I think his words were wise. That conversation took place years before our default mode became reduced to technology’s social media platforms.  I hate to think what his comeback might be in today’s world when human contact is sometimes limited to a post or a tweet.

Jesus counseled that it is where and on what we spend our time that speaks volumes about who we are. “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).  I think Jesus would tell us that true spirituality is about having real human connections, something which can easily escape us in a world where we have allowed true listening to be reduced to sound bites.

God’s Word places high value on rest and tranquil living. Much of the time, we become like Martha losing sight of those things that are really important.  We rush around chasing our tails and miss the blessings that the Lord has provided all around us. In reality, we learn much more in those calm, restful periods than we ever will in those times when our bodies and minds are on overload. The Lord spoke clearly about this: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  So the next time you feel troubled with the tasks of the day, and clearing your schedule for a few hours seems to be all but impossible – just learn to listen for these words: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).  It is when we permit those times of serenity to occur that God reveals Himself to us. Allow yourself to dwell in the Savior’s presence and let Him teach you how to follow in Mary’s example: to choose what it is better. For when you do so – you will not just experience that peace that passes all understanding . . . but you will have Him forever as your Guide.

REFLECTION: What are those tasks ahead of you this day that will make you feel like you are drowning under the pressures of life?  How might the words reflected in Matthew 6:33-34 provide a new vision?

(MY NEXT WEEKLY DEVOTION WILL BE UPLOADED ON SAT., NOVEMBER 14, 2015.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE REMINDED OF THE FREE WEEKLY POSTINGS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: LookUpwrd@aol.com  YOUR ADDRESS WILL NOT BE SHARED)