Busy-ness

Busy-ness.

“I’m busy.”

“I can’t do it, I’m just too busy.”
 
“If I just wasn’t so bogged down and busy…”

“I wish I wasn’t so busy!”
 
I’ve used this excuse, maybe a few times.

However, the more aware I become of myself of what I am doing can actually help eliminate the word “busy” from our list of excuses to not do something.

Play this with me for a moment.
 
What if we simply were not allowed to use the term “busy” anymore? How would we tell someone we won’t help them out, or participate or give or be with someone?
 
What if we actually had to give the reason to why—if we had to it out? I wonder how transparency would change what we do?

Our culture loves to use the term “busy” as a cover letter for an excuse of why we just can’t commit to something. It's a “you don’t get to ask me what or why” card. If I say “I’m busy” then the door is shut.

The truth is, we pretty much make space for the things we want to make space for. Obviously there are exceptions—we don’t need to argue about that.

We humans have some problems with commitment to good habits, self discipline, growing, and to the giving of ourselves outside our bubble.

We do like to commit ourselves to comfort, pleasure and self absorption and to leave room for something better.

I will be the first to raise my hand on that.

Most of the time when I get a phone call from one of my parents, the first thing they ask me is, “are you busy?” In other words, do I have space to talk to them? I try not to answer their call when I am not able to have enough free time with them. And occasionally, I will answer it just to let them know I am hearing their request to talk and I will call them back.

Gone are the days of people just picking up their phones when someone calls. We want to know what we are committing to before we commit to the phone call. "Let them leave a message, I’ll see what they want first before I commit to talk to them.” Ya, I am guilty of this too.

I do not have a bigger lesson on this word then, really, can we be aware of how much we are uttering the word “busy”?

How is the use of this word “busy” being or not being abused by ourselves?
Can we take a look at all the things we might be missing because of the use of the word “busy”?

Busy-ness is usually a robber of the most important things in our lives. It often gets used because of the emotion of overwhelm in our lives. We are already feeling like what we are doing is abnormal and we are drained and just can’t do one more thing.

Ok, I understand. I have felt this a lot.

But, what is it we should be saying yes to, and what is it we should be pulling the “busy” card on? Is that balanced?

Evaluate. And watch yourself before you use the blanket term “I’m busy”. What are we busy with and why?

Leave space for the unexpected. Leave space for the last minute invitation to lunch. Leave space for a conversation with someone who needs to be heard or who’s phone call you just need to pick up for.

Put in the space to not have to drive in a hurry, to take more time cooking the meal or eating.

Literally, I have been watching myself in a hurry eating, when there is no reason to be in a hurry. I must re-learn to not wolf my food down.

Why am I even doing this?

Because of bad habits. The feeling that I am just too busy to enjoy the food comes from way too many times of believing this is the case.

The whole world is entirely over-busy and we just need to stop. We need to learn to enjoy space to just observe, to appreciate and  value what is in front of us right now.

Let us Leave quiet space to hear God talk- no music, no sound, no appointment to get to.
Just like a credit card that should be used sparingly, so should our excuse of “I’m too busy”.
Let's bring out the transparency and be honest with each other and with ourselves.

I really dislike being over committed. I do know the feeling of having to tell someone no because I already have a commitment. I also know how it feels to have one's personal space invaded with a last minute engagement. Flexibility is important. Boundaries are important. Balance is really important.

I want to have enough wisdom and discernment to know when the word “busy” is needing to be buried or exchanged for an important date with eternal consequences.
God can help us with this- if we are interested in hearing from Him.