Busyness

I posted on my Facebook page this morning “inspiration comes when you take the time to be still and listen to the still small voice.” This weekend marks the first of which I have had the luxury of sleeping in and laying around the house with nothing in particular to do.  I have recently transitioned into a different job and as a result, I made the decision not to work on Saturdays.  It has been years since my job has allowed me the ability to have weekends off and words cannot properly articulate the pleasure and peace I have felt all weekend as a result.  To have the whole weekend to myself was a treat and I felt so thankful to be in a position where I did not have to be “busy” but was able to be still.  It has been a while since I have been still with myself and with God.

Saturday was a wash.  I did absolutely nothing and I caught up on my sleep. The older I get the more I appreciate how nice it is to sleep.  Anyway, since I was all rested up from Saturday, Today, I have had a chance to reflect, pray and give consideration to the way in which I am currently spending my time.  I am frequently reminded of the parable in Matthew Chapter 13.  In this parable Jesus talked about the sower:

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

What comes to my mind over and over again is verse 7 and verse 22 when the bible speaks of the seed that fell among the thorns and thorns sprung up and choked the seed.  The bible says that this means the seed fell on ground but died when it was choked out by the cares of this world.  I often contemplate that passage, “the cares of this world” and what that actually means.

I have been troubled by the busyness of my own life and the lack of time and energy I have had to “live my days intentionally” the life I desire to live.  The life I know God is calling me to live. I believe there is a way to structure my day that will bring more wholeness to my life and my walk with God.  I have just not weeded out the “stuff” yet and this parable is a reminder of that.   Let me explain.  God promised to give us “abundantly above all we can think or even imagine” but we have a part to play in receiving what he has destined for us to have.  I have to position myself in a place to receive what he gives.  For example, most everyone passes out candy and treats on Halloween.  But you cannot collect the candy unless you first knock on the door and hold out your bag to receive the candy that is predestined to be given to those who come to the door.  I feel God calling me to a place of intentional living and I don’t think I am the only one he is calling.  

  

Today, I am aware that the decision I made to quit working on Saturdays has directly impacted the time I have had this weekend to be alone with myself and with God.  It has allowed me to just listen to whatever it is I am suppose to hear.  I love having time to write.  To think.  To be grateful.  To spend time with my mom and dad. Time to spend with my husband.  To spend time on the phone with my son.  To pray and to ponder the coming week.  It makes me realize that I often miss these little blessings by being too busy.  

I do not have the formula for being a Christian.  I do have the Bible, but those of us who read and study it will tell you that reading it and walking it out in daily life are two very different things. It is not easy and it will challenge everything about you. But living according to God’s principles has been the only thing that has changed my life.  It has transformed my marriage and has given me a peace that no one can possibly understand except for those of us who experience it.  I have a desire to live wholly; body, soul and mind, aligned together in unity to live intentional.  There have been times in my life when I have lived whole, but there are more times in my life where I have not.

I am writing this blog as a reminder to myself of the life I want to live.  I also hope to inspire someone to re-evaluate their own life and see if there is a way to free yourself from the busyness of the day so you too can be alone with your thoughts to hear the still small voice of God.  What was it that Socrates said?  “an unexamined life is a life not worth living.” I happen to agree and I am certain that if you take some time out of your day to be still, you too will agree.