The Badge of Busyness
I am busy.
You are busy.
We live in a busy culture.
So, this article is pretty much for everyone. For most of us, from morning until night, we have to-do lists (yes, I’m one of those nerds that makes one for every day) and we fill them with so many things that we scramble our minds trying to get it all done.
However, I will make a confession. Too often, I wear my busyness as a badge of honor. Leah and I talked about this (among other things) on last week’s podcast, and I’ve tried to take some time to reflect on that since. (But, of course, I’ve been too busy to reflect on it much.)
Why do we do this? Why does it seem like we are being more faithful (or holy or good) to always be able to say, “We sure have been busy,” or “I’ve just got more to do than I know how to handle”?
Again, I’m guilty as charged, and it’s going to be a hard habit to break.
Now, this is not to say that I am just overly tired, or that I am wanting to stop a zillion things and just wake up every morning with nothing to do. I would far rather be busy than bored.
That said, is it something to wear as a badge of honor when we are running like crazy? Is that really something to be overly proud of? I ask that to ask this: In the midst of all that busyness, are we really taking the time for what is most important and valuable?
I seem to recall Scripture saying that I need to “be still” if I am to really know the One who is God (Psalm 46:10). When my life is run-run-run, am I really able to be still and draw closer to the Almighty?
Additionally, can I give my wife and my children the true attention they deserve if my mind is frayed by constant activity and my body is worn out from never-ending scheduling? Can I listen to their concerns and stories? Can I think about their needs? Can I just be there with them?
But it goes further. Sometimes, entire families wear busyness as a badge of honor. Are we really doing right by our families when basically the only service we provide is a taxi service? When is the last time your family sat down and quietly read or played a board game together, and did not really care how long it took because you didn’t have something to get to? Do we have time to teach our children about God when our lives are filled with ceaseless activity?
I really am not trying to make anyone feel guilty. Honestly, as I look at my upcoming to-do lists, I wonder how it’s all going to get done. I am as guilty as anyone else of filling my life with constant motion.
But my goal is to stop trying to wear that busyness as a badge of honor. Instead, it is to work as hard as I can, but also to learn to let some things go, slow down, and remember that only in the slower moments of life can I truly connect with Who and what is most important.
Who’s with me in this journey?
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AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
