Hurry, Hurry

On Sunday, we ate at a small chain restaurant here in town. We sat down and the waitress ran to us and chunked down the menus and promised to be right back. We watched her as she ran from table to table trying to keep a couple of dozen hungry patrons happy. She returned and I said "wow, you are busy!" I wanted to pray for her at our blessing time but didn't really even get the chance to ask her if there was anything specific to pray for. She had already dashed to the next family. When I left, I felt disappointed because although we did pray for her and the other three or four immensly busy workers, she was too busy to even tell her and bless her in some way. A tip on the bill hardly seemed enough. I really just felt sorry for her.

So today I worked out, took a shower, made coffee, made breakfast, ate breakfast, read my Bible study, loaded the dishwasher, swept the floor, made lunch, fed the dogs, carpooled three kids to school, went to walmart, back to work, met with a student, spoke to a class full of juniors, ate lunch with my wonderful guidance department, checked on ink I ordered, made copies, made nametags, answered students' college questions, returned phone calls, returned emails, confirmed our speakers for tomorrow's retreat one final time, checked the progress of an online survey that I sent out to parents yesterday, went to Staples, printed certificates, printed programs, reminded myself to slow down and.."breathe, breathe, breathe", labeled forty folders, checked on speakers, gathered items for tomorrow's career day retreat, headed out the door, dropped off kids from carpool, came home, sat on the couch (for 2 minutes), took Chad to the community center, went to the grocery store, left the grocery store, unpacked the groceries, folded a load of towels, put away dishes, and sat down to read home email and post here. When I write it all down it sounds just about as crazy as it feels. Busy. Busy. Busy.

So when I read back over the day, I see nothing major. Nothing back-breaking. Just a constant buzzing and flitting around. But I noticed the glaring similarities to the busy waitress' day on Sunday. Hurry, hurry. Busy, busy. Never slowing down enough to bless. Never slowing down enough to be blessed. I can't help but wonder, what am I doing this all for? And what does HE have for me that I may be missing? What person have I missed out on blessing, or being blessed by? All because I'm too busy. And I realized my own busy-ness, when looked through in a new light, was to be pitied as well. Too busy for quiet stillness with HIM is just too busy.

I confess Lord that in all the busy-ness I have failed to relish in the peace you have for me. I confess also that I have missed opportunities to speak your peace into others. I confess that I may have confused a busy day with a full day. Lord, let me be so full, that YOU and YOUR hope will spill over unto all that I come in contact with. Help make my feet fixed, if only for a few minutes, to dangle my toes in Your LIVING water. To be refreshed in and by YOU and Your presence. Thank YOU Lord!

Isaiah 58 (The Message)

Praise HIM!