What we are busy about

By CHERYL CRUCE

At 96, he seemed one of the wisest men I had ever known. Placed in hospice for a failing heart, I would become his caregiver for the next few months. Mainly, I was the fortunate one who was given the task of listening to his stories of the old days when life seemed less complex. Often, he spoke of the one-room schoolhouse, the first car he ever saw, barn dances, and Sunday afternoon picnics by the cool springs. Those cool springs were where he and his friends would skinny-dip on their way home from the one-room schoolhouse.
He would say, “Life wasn’t always fun and games; we worked hard, too.” Then he talked about early morning chores around the farm before breakfast. The usual milking of the cow and gathering the eggs, along with other tasks of caring for the animals, were shared with his brother.
The afternoon was filled with gardening, fence repairs, and helping his Dad until late evening. When I asked him if he ever had time to play as a child, he laughed, reminding me of the cool springs and barn dances.
During one of our days together, he noticed my planner filled with appointments and questioned what seemed to be a hectic schedule. He said everything we do to make our lives easier only complicates things. Cars are faster and more plentiful, but we have lost those long walks with friends on old dirt roads. Malls are more convenient with everything under one roof; however, nothing can replace an Orange Nehi Soda from the local country store.
In his opinion, the more people did, the less people had. He believed that for everything gained, there is a trade-off that can never be regained.
There is a lot of truth to his words. The simplicity of life is quickly fading into marked calendars and scheduled meetings. The faster we travel, the quicker we find the knowledge, the more time grows out of control. AI is taking over the workplace, moving us into a new era of unfathomable probabilities and uncertainties. So, we fill our calendars with busy work to keep up with the rush of the world surrounding us, thinking we will find our purpose in the “doing.” Henry David Thoreau said, “It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”
Martha and Mary are prime examples of finding true purpose beyond the agenda. Jesus and His friends had visited their house, and Martha became Thoreau’s ant. She was busy with what needed to be done but had lost sight of being with the Lord. On the other hand, Mary cleared her calendar to sit with Jesus, realizing His presence was the greater purpose (Luke 10). The Psalmist writes that the Lord is near the one who calls on Him in truth, fulfilling their needs (Psalm 145:18-19). I believe Mary was like the deer panting for the waters, her soul thirsty for the calming presence of the Lord.
We are all thirsty souls seeking something to satisfy a longing deep within us. That seeking creates schedules that never meet the needs of the person. Our response to Thoreau’s question, “What are we busy about?” should be followed by a morning prayer, “Lord, help me stay within your plans for my life, and may I walk in a way so others may see You coming.”

Psalm 90:17 – “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.