I am a big fan of Google Calendar. It sort of looks like a rainbow when I open it up and I look at all the meetings, trips, practices and responsibilities that I have in my life today.
We all have the tendency to lean toward a life of being busy – every moment of our day scheduled to the minute.
As I’ve started a new year, I am trying to get out of the habit of saying that “I’m busy.” Busy just sounds so bland. Busy sounds like it was a lot of stuff with no purpose.
Thinking about the opportunity we have to influence those involved in our settings, I know that all of us desire to go about our days, our weeks, our years with purpose.
I’m becoming more keenly aware that being busy is a tool of taking my mind off of greater things. I’m reminded in Romans 12.2 of a daily giving over of my time – “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
What am I doing to try to not be so busy?
1. I’m learning how to say “No.” Want to practice is with me? N-O. It’s been a difficult process at times. However, I’m attempting to balance a lot that is on my plate. In order to be effective in the ministry we have been given, a leader must be ok with saying “No” to some things. It REALLY is ok!
2. Surrounding myself with people that can help me in the areas that are not my strength or passion. When I surround myself with those people – I have to learn to delegate and ask others to join me in the work of our ministry.
3. Setting aside time in my schedule to take care of the “tasks” of life that result in feeling busy. These are necessary parts of our job. I’m tackling those “tasks” so that I can move on to the things that give me energy and excitement.
4. Keeping a constant perspective of loving God and loving people. Ultimately, those are the two main things that I have been called to do. At the end of the day I have to ask myself the question of how I did that today.
My calendar will always have lots of colors. However, my perspective is about living a life of purpose and pointing others to Christ. My hope is that I’m never too busy to be about that!
Mark Whitt is the Collegiate and Young Adult Specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources.