My Name is Tracey, I’m a Human BEING… Not, a Human DOING.
“Busyness is not a spiritual gift.”
From an interview with
~ Lisa Harper ~
Spring Cleaning. (Still…. I may never be caught up!) Mopping. Toilet scrubbing. Laundry. Cooking. Writing projects. Supervising homework. Arguing about homework. Being the computer nazi. (IF you don’t get off that computer right now- I’ll pull the PLUG! Oh, the joys of having teens) Scraping playdough off the dog. (Teens and a preschooler- an interesting combination.) Knitting for charity, and fun. Bible-study. Mom Stuff.
Then there are the personal things….Showering, washing and drying my hair, make-up application. Which requires strict attention- or I could accidently use my eye-liner as a lip liner again! Making feeble attempts to shave both legs on a given day. (I’m Italian… sometimes it takes a bit of TIME to accomplish this goal! I have been known to get interrupted in the shower- and only do one leg… that’s a look, I’ll tell you!) Sending/ responding to email on 3 different accounts. IMing my husband. (sometimes it’s the most we get to talk….he travels a lot) Paying bills. (mostly even on time;)
Each of us has our own list of chores and responsibilities. Maybe your list includes a “for-pay” job, volunteer responsibilities, older loved ones to care for, or myriad other things to do. We’re busy. None of it is bad. (Trust me, it’s better for my marriage love life if both legs are shaved ocassionally;) It’s just, well, BUSY. Very busy.
The thing is… sometimes I get so caught up in the “doings” of my life, that I forget to just “be.”
I forget to be:
Quiet. And listen. To Him, the sheep know the shepherd’s voice. When was the last time I was quiet enough to hear it?
Still and experience Him through His creation.
Spontaneous, and enjoy my loved ones- even if there is a load of wash that needs to be done.
I wonder why I continue to allow myself to be so busy? Am I trying to earn brownie points with God? (Yeah- He died on a cross, I’m sure He’ll be impressed with my constant service.) Am I trying to be perfect, or make the things around me perfect? (With three boys, that one would be pretty tough to accomplish!) Am I trying to avoid the quiet? Boredom? Am I trying to keep afloat in a life crashing with waves of “extra” things, that I should cut out of my schedule completely? Am I just plain too busy?
I’m not sure. But, I’m asking God to show me.
And, I do know this: “Busyness, is not a spiritual gift”
~ Lisa Harper ~
Dear Jesus- Today, as we go through our day- help us to take time to BE… remind us that busyness is not a spiritual gift- it may even be a spiritual pitfall. Lord- you’ve breathed the breath of life into us- help us not to waste it by being busy. Keep our eyes focused on you- and on balancing our lives, moment by moment in a way that honors you…. maybe just by BEING with you. Give us wisdom to know what needs to be done— and what needs to not, be done. I love you Jesus- Amen-
Genesis 2:7
…the LORD God formed the man The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah) it is also the name Adam (see Gen. 2:20). from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Amen, amen.
Oh yea. Wonderful post Tracey.
Amen!
Busyness may be a spiritual pitfall—oooh, that is good. Wonderful post!
Blessings~
Tracey, I know exactly what you are talking about. Right after basketball season, God had me slow down and everywhere I went, the verse “Be still and know that I am God” showed up. In church, on the radio, in my bible reading for that day, on the tv even! Just last week, I learned the original Hebrew word for “still” means “arms hang limp, weaken, abandon, withdraw” Now, I don’t think God wants me to go into a depression, but I do think that He’d like for us to quit doing in order to get, and let Him bless us with things that would knock our socks off!! Ya know, just like we like to do for our kids, or spouses? Surprise them with something they’ve been wanting and they didn’t have to complete tasks to get them.
I enjoy this site everyday, and probably comment too much, but it just comes out.
What a wonderful post. Amen. Thank you so much for sharing from your heart.
Much blessings to you,
Angel ( Angel Mama Pearls of Wisdom)
Tracey,
Fantastice post as usual. Well written and humorus and yet packed with a punch. Last week I was so busy it was rediculous. Today I have cut time in my schedule just to go on the patio and pray for an hour. Perfect timing today. God bless you my sweet sister, Love, Lynn
What a rebuke!!! This post speaks directly to me … so glad I read and read it again. Thank you
A Good post I pray that God will speak to you. May you have more quiet time with him. Thanks for sharing. God Bless
Beautiful. I want to BE and not just DO. Thanks for posting this.
very well said. How often I forget to just be still… even when I’m laying down I still am tooo busy in my head kwim?
Wonderful!
“BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM THE lORD”
I TRY TO BE STILL IN HIM.
So like you’re saying that maybe I should sign off the computer and go hang out with God before starting this busy day? Okay. I’ll do it:) Thanks.
Great post!! Always enjoy reading your entries. So I have chosen your blog as one of my 5 fav for the “Thinking Blogger” Award. God Bless you as you continue using the gift God has given you.