by Carmela Mulroe

Created on: November 21, 2008

Busy: I don't want to be busy anymore.

At one time it was chic, the buzz word, the pat answer to the question "How's it going?"
"Oh, you know.busy." We smiled back that knowing smile and nodded in agreement. ' Yes. Isn't it great to be successful, upwardly mobile.accomplishing so much?'

Now, as I look the word busy' up in the dictionary, it tells me otherwise. Busy can be in addition to occupied:

ornate, disparate, or clashing in design or colors; cluttered with small, unharmonious details;

So, I don't want to be busy, I want to be purposeful, organized and accomplished. I want a sense of inner peace which comes with balance. I want what Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 boasts about
-a time for everything-as in "There is a time for everything and a season to every activity under heaven."

Would we somehow feel less cluttered, if there was a place for everything and everything in it's place? A time for everything?
Often my stress comes not from what I am doing, but from all the things I feel I should also be doing. Yet, I can only be in one place and truthfully do one or possibly two things at a time without creating chaos. It's when I am trying to accomplish two or more things at once, that often I fail and neglect to complete either task. How many times have I dialed the phone to find that I do not remember who I called when the other end is picked up? Or how about the cookies in the oven which are burnt because I am trying to finish a report at the computer while fielding a phone call from my child's teacher. What have I really accomplished? Not much. We can't eat the cookies, I miss half of what the teacher says and I have to retype my work due to errors. My sense of peace is fragmented. I find no rest.

However, as I begin to organize my tasks, seek guidance through prayer to prioritize, and focus on one task at a time, I accomplish more, eliminate clutter and chaos and restore a sense of well being. A wise teacher I once had, said, hard work does not create stress, but rather the conflict around the work. Thus work and busyness are not congruent.

In the story of Martha and Mary, Martha was busy. She created a sense of chaos as she tried to live up to the expectation of what her work was. Mary on the other hand, knew that this was a time to be with Jesus. Mary lived out her purpose for that time. Perhaps at another time, her purpose would be to feed the masses. When we work with purpose and focus, then chaos can be lessened or nonexistent.

I can only hope that my work will make this world a better place, that someone has laughed, smiled and been given the sense of hope and knowledge that God and love do exist.

I am no longer busy. I am helping to create the kingdom of heaven and storing up for myself, treasures.

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