Back when I was in college for both my undergraduate and graduate degree, I had the privilege to travel to many different countries. One particular year I was able to take an international course in Rome, Italy. This was a two-week course in graduate school, which allowed some of my friends and me to travel all around Italy, Greece and Switzerland. I thoroughly enjoyed this time and was in awe of how laid back the Italians were especially during their siesta. Literally, in the afternoon there was a four-hour siesta (time for rest) and the town that we were staying was literally shut down.There is a lot to be said for that, sometimes when we find ourselves in life's fast lane, we need to take a break and slow way down, and even get off at the proverbial rest stop. This got me thinking about this post and how important time management is as stewards of God's time. How important are some of the most little things in life that we are so busy (world standards) that we miss God's standards.
So here it goes, my top 10 reasons when you know your life is too busy:
#10 You worry too much - the demands in your life keep pulling you in every direction (Job lists keep growing, there is always more to do, your kids activities are taking you in every direction - family dinners are in the family vehicle going from one sport to another instrument). You have not been keeping up with the goals that you set for yourself when you were younger. You are not sure about this economy and what that means for you your loved ones. You don't give these worries to God (let's be honest, if you worry too much, I want to challenge your prayer life)
# 9 You are too busy to forgive others - you let everything else pull you in every direction and to do things that really don't matter. Relationships that need to be edified and nurtured and cultured. Sometimes we neglect loved ones (our wives, kids, family members and friends) You need to say you are sorry and make them a priority. You need to forgive if you let life get in the way of forgiveness.
# 8 You are lonely - let's be honest here. You can be successful, you can technically have it all and you could have a wife and family that loves you and friendships that would do anything for you, but you are too busy to notice and to busy to realize that you are wealthy in friends and family and relationships - so you feel lonely
# 7 You are in debt - because of the busyness and the time pull you justify the debt in your life due the demand of this rat race called life
# 6 Your family and friends' relationships are suffering - as point #8 said, because you are so busy the very things that give you peace, contentment and happiness are left out in the cold of this busy and the time away both by being their presently and or being pulled away by life still keeps you disconnected from the ones that you need to cultivate and build up and invest in
# 5 You procrastinate too much - you have so many good ideas and dreams that will bring you to levels of contentment and happiness, yet you are too busy to take the tasks to hand
# 4 You are truly bored - life is crazy, you are way to busy to slow down and breath in the life of peach and tranquility, therefore you believe that you are bored instead of busy - so you make your life busier and busier pursuing the very things that are in front of you (slow down smell the roses)
# 3 You have no spiritual life - the way you used to pray, the way you used to spend time in the word, the way you used to devotion - where is the time
# 2 You are lacking community - what more needs to be said, refer to #8 #4 and #9
# 1 You are not making time for the right things - Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, body and strength. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as your self. Put God first. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all of your ways and He will make your path straight.
When you reflect on these things (and be honest) my next post will point us to Scripture to meditate on (Start with Proverbs 5).
Blessings,
Dante