Cries of a "Wailing Woman": Busy

**The HILARIOUS and convicting irony of this post is that I started it . . . in February. Guess I didn't learn much from writing the first half! Oh Lord, have mercy!

I just saw this picture on Facebook and thought about it on my drive home from work. I love that the graphic is a simple little phrase… yet so pregnant with meaning.

"Stop the glorification of busy"

Busy, adj. - having a great deal to do; occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention; excessively detailed or decorated

Glorification, n. - a state of high honor; a portrayal of something as ideal; the act of glorifying as in worship

This statement calls attention to a great sin in our culture (of which I am also guilty). I was thinking this morning as I nearly fell asleep in my oatmeal: I'm so glad that God made work AND rest spiritual. If you do not know what I mean, look at Genesis 1. God created the heavens and the earth for 6 days and then "on the seventh day, he rested." Not only that, he also created day and night. There is a natural rhythm in nature that requires rest: you need it to survive. Plants, animals, and seasons bear witness to this cycle of "flourish" and "hibernation;" a dying or lying down only to rise again (I hope Mrs. Moyer's does not read this, because I never could learn when to use laying or lying… that's why I decided to teach biology instead of English).

… Yet there were SIX days of WORK. Notice that work came before the fall… therefore work was created as part of a good, perfect, orderly world.

Enter sin and more humans.

I think that it is fairly simple for us to fall into one trap or the other. Some of us give in to the sin of sloth; we ridicule those "fools" who "build bigger barns" and store up where "moth and rust destroy" (Luke 12 and Matthew 6). Then there are those of us (enter: the workaholic, the people pleasers, the achievement addicts, the perfectionist, and the discontent) who KNOW that hard work is "honorable" and generally leads to success. After all, "good work ethic" is something you want to describe you in a reference letter.

The question is not "how much work is too much?" The question is "when did my work stop glorifying Christ and start glorifying me?"

Go back to Genesis 1 and take note of these key phrases God uses in regards to humans:

-"So God created man in his own image"
-"And let them have dominion over [the animals] and [the plants]"
-"Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it"
-"The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it" (ch 2)

We can see here that our original purpose in work (as in all things), was to "image" God. God worked and created, so he made Adam to work and "create" with his own two hands. This reflects the very nature of God. So, when we are working, we are displaying the wonder, majesty, and greatness of our creator. This gives us a chance to point to God and say "He. Is. Great." . . . Glory. The original intent of work was the glorification of God.

I think that deep down, we know this. There is some compelling force to work and create. Little boys and girls build lego towers and sand castles. Artists create masterpieces. Engineers design software and machines. Teachers develop lessons and contractors build houses. We know that we are supposed to "do something." If you are between the ages of 15 and 25, the question you are asked most is "So what do you want to DO with your life?" The problem is, we will all to often just "do something" and miss the whole point.

A really popular pastime for people in "my generation" (I'm going to say this is anyone from age 15-25…ish) is the "complain about my schedule" game. Let me show you what I mean with a little role play between person A and B.

A: "Hello! How are you doin-

B: "TIRED"

A: "….Oh really? What's up?"

B: "Well I had until 10pm last night and then I stayed up until 2pm doing and I have practice tonight for and I'm just so tired and I think I'm getting a sinus infection. I'm just really busy and I hate my life."

A: "Oh… well I was just going to-"

B: "Sorry I gotta go, I'm just so BUSY"

And then they have time to tweet about how busy they are. I'm confused. Do we want people to pity us or pray for us? Or both?

I was horrible about this in high school. Teenagers today are overstimulated by "career paths" and "options." They feel the pressure to pick a career path before they have even figured out "who they are." They are surrounded by people who boast and play the "complain about my schedule game," so they follow suit by signing up for every club imaginable. After all, "it looks good on a college application."

A common reply I give to students complaining about their schedule is "well, that's your choice."

Parker always says: "In the army we have a saying 'Good is the Enemy of Great." You may have a lot of "good" things going on, but the fact that you have TOO much means you are not truly "great" at any of them. Whether you are secular or Christian, Jew or Greek, I think we can all agree that successful people are healthy, balanced people. . . Usually.

Thankfully, we are given a perfect example: Christ. He had "balance" in his life. He spent time preaching and teaching, but he also took time to share meals with his disciples. He said no to "speaking engagements" to be alone and pray. His priorities were set.

Now don't get me wrong, Jesus did NOT have an easy life. After all, "The Son of Man has no place to lay his head" - Luke 9:58. He worked a full day, healing late into the night and getting up early to spend time with His Father (Luke 1). However, you never hear him say "GOSH, If I have one more sick, nasty bleeding person tugging on my clothes, I'm gonna lose it! I'm pretty wiped from all the miracles I've done lately." No. He was a selfless servant. He IS the resurrection and the life.

That being said . . .

"Stress" and "Busy" are unavoidable. In fact, God sometimes leads us straight into a storm of chaos.

As a human being with a spouse, job, and/or family, I am guaranteed to face seasons of stress. What matters is how I navigate those seasons. When I am focused on the "stressors" in my life, I do not point others to Christ. However, when I look beyond those things to Christ, others are encouraged by that "peace that passes understanding." So then, let us stop blabbing about our crazy lives and show a little faith. In short: