Addicted to the Rush of It

 

  I was recently reading a sermon of Steve Minor’s where he talked about how it seems today we seem to regard busyness a sign of social status. The more things we have to do, more activities and sports we have our children in, the more groups and good works we are in, somehow make us some sort of “all-star family”. Being busy has become a status symbol - almost as if a hectic life is equivalent to worldly success.  He quoted an article by Barbara Stanny where she described the phenomena as ATBS – Addicted To Busyness Syndrome.  The comparison was made that busyness is a drug for some. That over scheduling give us a sense of purpose and meaning; we are busy so it must be important.  We don’t have to focus on problems because we are too busy to think about that. The rush to get all done becomes addictive. To some their world and self-image would shatter it they were not trying to do it all.

  This kind of lifestyle has been around for awhile now and it has proven very damaging to the home and family.  You see the damage when couples become so busy with kids activities that when then kids finally leave the home, they look across the table to their spouse and see a stranger and the relationship ends because they no connection anymore. You see it in kids that grow up entitled because everything has been about them their whole lives. You see in a generation that is locked into constant entertainment since they have spent their whole lives being entertained. You see it young people that have no purpose in life because all they have known is a whirlwind of activity with no deeper meaning. You see it in families that spend so much time together yet have never had any kind of deep conversation. We kept them busy, doing so much for our children, yet we have given them nothing but a few experiences, some trophies and no real purpose.

  That kind of busyness is not good for us.  I don’t care who you are. You may think you are “supermom” or the “world’s greatest dad” but in reality you are hurting your marriage and your family. We need to take time off, have down time and focus on spiritual things! You why I know this? Because Jesus did it all the time.

  In Luke 5:15-16 we read this about Jesus,”

But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.  But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

 

  Right in the middle of his work, when there were people needing him, Jesus the most perfect person would go off for some down time. If Jesus need it than so do you!  Jesus even encouraged the habit in his disciples. Mark 6:31 tell us, “He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”  That does sound like us today does it? So busy running from here to there we don’t have time to eat? When our kids the place to eat dinner in in a minivan not at a table, I think it is time to rethink what you are doing.  If we don’t take every slow down, what is truly important might just pass us by!