When people ask you how you’re doing – have you every included the word “busy” in your answer?

One NY Times article called “The Busy Trap” that went viral commented, “It’s become the default response when you ask anyone how they’re doing: “Busy!” “So busy.” “Crazy busy.””

Notice it isn’t generally people pulling back-to-back shifts in the I.C.U. or commuting by bus to three minimum-wage jobs  who tell you how busy they are; what those people are is not busy but tired. Exhausted. Dead on their feet. It’s almost always people whose lamented busyness is purely self-imposed: work and obligations they’ve taken on voluntarily, classes and activities they’ve “encouraged” their kids to participate in. They’re busy because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they’re addicted to busyness and dread what they might have to face in its absence.

Yes, for most of us, busyness is a choice, and we kind of like it!

But what are its consequences?

One psychiatrist listed a few:

  • It is so easy with cellphones and BlackBerrys a touch away.
  • It is a kind of high.
  • It is a status symbol.
  • We’re afraid we’ll be left out if we slow down.
  • We avoid dealing with life’s really big issues — death, global warming, AIDS, terrorism — by running from task to task.
  • We do not know how not to be busy.

There are many, but we’ll focus today on the consequence for our neighbours, since Jesus said this was so important.

When I first moved to Ajax, it naturally took a little time to meet all our neighbours.  Most memorably, two distinct families said the same thing when they met us.  One said, “I’m really sorry we’re just meeting you, I had made cakepops for you guys, but then got too busy to bring them over.”  Another said the same thing, “my wife was going to bake a pie to welcome you, but we got too busy.”

It’s heartbreaking – firstly because I could have had some excellent desserts, but also because it’s obvious how hectic our lifestyles can be, and how it inhibits forming lifegiving relationships.

Question: On a scale from 1 to 10 how busy is your life right now?

Ryan Sim - May 15, 2014

Thursday - Act On It - Pioneer Spirit

Pioneer Story

We’re exploring this week how Jesus sent his followers on a difficult, impossible mission to share his good news with the entire world. He gave them some real, tangible help, by sending the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was evident through the sound of rushing wind, the appearance of flames over their heads, and the speaking of languages they had never spoken before. Each of these are “things” – wind, fire, languages and that makes it tempting to refer to the Holy Spirit as “it”. But Christians have long insisted the Holy Spirit is a someone – and refer to the Holy Spirit as “He”. Technically He is called a “person” of the Trinity, as in someone with a personality, someone we can know. The Trinity is the Christian belief that there is one God, who relates to us in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. That means this was no mere magic trick. This was the arrival of a living and active presence in their lives. They had just been introduced to their guide for life on Jesus’ mission. At various times in my life I’ve come up with grand ideas about my future, but have always turned to the Holy Spirit for guidance first. I don’t want to be driven by ambition, or fear, or money or power or anything but the Holy Spirit of God. That means times of waiting, like the disciples did here. They could have plowed ahead with some great ideas on how to get their message to the people. But they waited for the Holy Spirit to guide him, and he did it in a far better way than they could have imagined. People saw what happened and were amazed, and of course a few were skeptical too. You can be introduced to the Holy Spirit as well, and he can do amazing things through you too. Talk to God the Father. Jesus made that possible. Ask him to come into your heart through his Holy Spirit, to be your life coach, to guide and direct every step of your life towards accomplishing the reason God put you on this earth – to know and love him, and help others do the same. Ask him to give you the gifts you need to accomplish this mission – for those disciples it was language, but what is it for you? Challenge: Take some time to pray that prayer – ask the Holy Spirit of God to enter your life and guide your next steps. Commit to do this every day for a few weeks – to wait on the Holy Spirit to give you the gifts and guidance you need to accomplish Jesus’ mission.

Related Topics: Ascension, Early Church, Jesus, Pioneer | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

From Series: "Pioneer Story"

We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.

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