Too busy?

How busy are you? If you fit with the typical person that I run across, probably busier than you would like. That seems strange to me. For the most part, we choose what we spend our time on. We are the ones who pack are calenders to overflowing. We try to run at a pace that we aren't meant to keep up for long distances. We try to sprint through life instead of pacing ourselves for the marathon. I know there are seasons when things beyond our control dictate a busy schedule, but shouldn't it be just for a season? A lifestyle of busyness doesn't seem healthy to me. I wonder if we try to cram so much in so that we don't have to think or feel on a deeper level. We are too busy to care about those around us because we are striving to keep our heads above water. We don't have time to think through our actions to see if they match up with the lifestyle that Jesus demonstrated. We run furiously, but have little to show for it except being more stressed than before.

As I've been trying to organize some of my thoughts about what community means and why it rarely happens, I've been wondering if the biggest reason may simply be that we are too busy. If we are running to our next appointment, the next thing on our calender, the next thing we jammed into our schedule... it seems it may be a little difficult to connect with our community. It is tough to reach a level of authenticity with others even when we are focused on it, but when we are overcommited, hurried, and looking to just survive the day, I don't how it ever happens. So when was the last time you had a real conversation? When was the last time you took the time to listen to someone, really listen, and then meet their needs? Are you running so fast that you are missing the important things? Is life passing in a blur? How busy are you? It is your choice. Just wondering out loud as usual.