Kids have a thing at school. Van needs to go to this repair shop, no wait, now that repair shop. Zoom meeting that runs a little long. Call from a family member. To do list. Exercise? Online distraction. Change in plans. Lunch may have to wait. Fantasies about that thing that you actually wanted to do today. Tomorrow.
This could be almost anyone’s stream of consciousness. I’m listening to a book right now named “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”. It doesn’t seem right to set the speed to 1.5x like I do everything else. It makes me aware. Aware of the busy-ness that fills our lives. The addiction to our phone’s pinging, the compulsion of checking our messages, the status symbol that overwork has become. I heard someone who was retired the other day complaining about how busy their life was. Retired!
I swim in these waters with you. I breathe this air with you (or is it more like suffocating without air?). I had a guy the other day say, “I know you from your writing, where it seems like you have a good handle on “being” versus “doing,”. He continued, “but I’m glad to hear that you struggle with “doing” just like the rest of us.” Of course I do.
German sociologist Hartmut Rosa calls this “Time Sickness” – the feeling that we’ve been on the carousel for too long and it has been going too fast. (It also has not likely gotten us that far.) Do you feel queasy?
Jesus says “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11) Could we translate His yoke to being unhurried? relaxing? languid?
After all, if Jesus has made me righteous, do I need to be in a hurry? Do I need to do more? There are probably arguments for speed sometimes, but do we ever ask the question? Is faster always better? Is more always actually more? God’s command booms down from Mt. Sinai, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” Sit, sing, recite, listen, be quiet and still, laugh, eat a donut, drink a cup of coffee, pray.
“Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Matthew 6) Dare we believe this rebellious call to relative inaction? Dare we trust? “Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do as a Christian is to take a nap.” (John Ortberg)
You are righteous. Christ has deemed it because of HIS action, not yours. Righteous in all ways, not just the religious ones. Maybe the most spiritual thing you can do today is to think about how you could do less because He has done it all.