Casandra Martin

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life. “ – Socrates

Socrates has looked at my calendar.

Busyness seems to define who we are.  Every single person I know will say that they are busy. Busyness is the badge of productivity. We fill our planners, make our lists, stretch our time, and run on empty. Our society tells us that the busier you are, the more important you are. The more layers of inaccessibility we wrap around us, the more value we have. Busyness can become a mask that hides the emptiness of our hearts.

We let busyness set the perspective for our lives. I am not busier than anyone else. I have the same-sized plate as you do. It is filled with the same mix of family, job, laundry, bills, and service as your plate. But busyness seems to give us permission to take a myopic view of the world. It lets us turn inward, look at the world through the lens of selfishness, and pass by on the other side.

Jesus came so that we might have rich, abundant, full, overflowing, blessed, connected lives. Busyness has the potential to rob us of the blessings God has in store for us. There is nothing wrong with being busy, unless that busyness steals the abundance Jesus died to give us. From the very beginning, God built in a rhythm of work and rest into creation. Our bodies are designed to move from activity to stillness each day. Our souls are created to mirror that balance of movement and quiet.

My Jesus Resolution today is to choose blessing over busyness. That might mean stopping in the middle of my day in order to hear His still, small voice. It might mean asking for help or saying no. It might mean that others will see me in my vulnerability rather than the “have it all together” mode I usually like to display. Mostly, it will mean taking Jesus up on His promise. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:28-29.