I have a confession to make. I am busy.
At first blush, that may not sound so bad, but over time, I’ve discovered the insidious nature of non-stop activity.
On the surface, busyness poses as a virtue. We compliment a person by saying, “She is one hard worker.” We certainly love the results. “Look at the progress! All our charts are up and to the right. This is fantastic!”
And it is. Busyness can produce tremendous results – and accolades to go with them.
I just didn’t know how easy it would be to lose my soul.
Nose to the Grindstone
I’m not here talking about busyness interspersed with rest and play. I’m referring to head down, nose to the grindstone, morning, noon and night busyness. The kind that goes on for weeks and months, maybe years.
It’s relentless busyness that hardens our hearts, shrivels our relationships and makes it almost impossible to hear the voice of God. I know. I’ve been there.
Ironically, this is not the life Jesus modeled.
Not Hurried
Of course, Jesus had many things to do. He had people to heal, disciples to mentor, and crowds to teach. But he was never in a hurry.
When word reached Jesus that his close friend Lazarus was ill, he didn’t rush off to his side. Instead, Jesus stayed two days longer where he was (John 11:5-6).
Somehow, Jesus was just fine with moving slowly. Why aren’t we?
I Am Busy Because…
Spiritual writer Eugene Peterson offers a couple of reasons.
I am busy because I am vain. I want to appear important. Significant. What better way than to be busy?…If I go into a doctor’s office and find there’s no one waiting, and I see through a half-open door the doctor reading a book, I wonder if he’s any good. . .
Such experiences affect me. I live in a society in which crowded schedules and harassed conditions are evidence of importance, so I develop a crowded schedule and harassed conditions. When others notice, they acknowledge my significance, and my vanity is fed.
I am busy because I am lazy. I indolently let others decide what I will do instead of resolutely deciding myself.
It was a favorite theme of C. S. Lewis that only lazy people work hard. By lazily abdicating the essential work of deciding and directing, establishing values and setting goals, other people do it for us.
If you are like me, this hits a little too close to home. I used to think busyness was thrust on me by my job or stage of life. I know better now.
Regardless of where I live, the kind of work I do, or my season of life, I find ways to pack my schedule. It’s no one else’s fault. It’s something in me.
A New Discipline
That’s why in this season of self-denial leading up Easter, I’m engaging in a new spiritual discipline. In addition to 20 minutes of meditative prayer in the morning to simply “be” with God, I’ve decided to add another 20 minutes mid-afternoon.
I knew this was the right discipline for me when I inwardly rejected the idea the moment it popped in my head.
“There’s no way I could do that!” my “doing self” protested.
I then began to bargain. “How about 10 minutes or maybe 15?”
These were my last gasps of clinging to a busyness addiction. Something in me adamantly opposed stopping my work, silencing my soul, and sitting in God’s Presence – something that was not from God.
Working With God
Here’s what I’m finding. When I stop my doing mid-afternoon to be with God, I am much more aware of the Holy Spirit, my pace, and when to let go. I receive promptings to take this direction or speak to that person.
On the whole, I feel like I’m working with God instead of for God. That’s a good thing.
By the way, this mid-afternoon prayer break has not hurt my productivity. It’s helped me get the right things done.
Maybe I’m not the only one who is busy.
What one step could you take in this season to slow down and listen more fully to God’s voice?
“CONNECTING NEW FRIENDS WITH CHRIST” ONLINE COURSE – STARTS MARCH 18
Ever wanted to naturally and authentically share your faith with someone you love? Starting Tuesday, March 18, you can join a FREE 7-Week Course that teaches you how. It’s designed to take an extended look at the motivation and skills needed to engage with loved ones to help each person take steps toward Christ. Here’s how to connect:
7 Weeks on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 7:45 PM by Zoom
March 18 to April 29, 2025
The Course is FREE! Please register to receive the Zoom link.
Let’s go on this journey together and see how God may use us to make an eternal difference in someone’s life.
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Roger Ross
A native of Cambridge, Illinois, Roger has served as a pastor in Texas, the British Channel Island of Guernsey, and Illinois. While in Illinois, he led teams that planted two new churches and served for 10 years as the lead pastor of one of the largest United Methodist Churches in the Midwest. It was his privilege to serve as the Director of Congregational Excellence in the Missouri Conference before coming into his current role with Spiritual Leadership, Inc (SLI).
Roger now comes alongside pastors, non-profit leaders and their leadership teams as an executive coach, specializing in leadership that inspires change. As a side gig, he loves teaching evangelism and church planting as an adjunct professor at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, Texas.
Other passions of his include SCUBA diving in warm blue water, Krispy Kremes, and board games with family and friends. He also has a weakness for golf.
Roger is the author of three books, Meet The Goodpeople: Wesley’s 7 Ways to Share Faith, Come Back: Returning to the Life You Were Made For, and Come Back Participant Guide, all through Abingdon Press.
Now for the best part. Roger is married to Leanne Klein Ross, and they live Bloomington, Illinois. God has blessed them with two adult children, a son-in-law, several tropical fish, and one adorable granddog.
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