Survival amid Hectic Frenzy

I picked up a birthday card this week that had a photo of a woman sitting on top of her upright suitcase, head in her hands, waiting at the end of her driveway.

The card read "I thought about running away and joining the circus...."

and the inside, "But then I realized that would be redundant!"

Do you ever have times in life like that?

Perhaps its just a single, l-o-n-g day;

Or maybe it is a season of hecticness (toddlerhood, homeschooling, carpool mom, working mom, going back to school, etc.)

For others it is more like a way of life: one aspect of hectic, frantic gerbil-wheel existence morphs right into the next...)

At some point, we each feel like that proverbial rodent panting frantically as we try to keep up with the ever spinning stainless steel wheel.

Where is God in this? Does He see, understand....care?!

In divine wisdom and tender compassion, he writes in His word just the 'lifeline' that we need to address this fast-paced dilemma.

At least, for me, two pillars of Biblical truth help keep me solidly moored.

1). Be still and know that I am God. Ps 46:10

Even when my mind/legs/hands/heart and voice have to remain in constant motion, my soul can rest in quiet places of trust, hope and peace. A solemn moment with Him is precious; do I commune with Him in this way? It is as simple as a snatch of thanksgiving, whisper of gratitude, thought of awareness, attitude of worship or eyes lifted to praise. He is ever and always around me in all of life. Do I see Him and acknowledge His awesome wonder?

Oh, the wheel may be spinning under my legs, but the God of Heaven is firmly in control of the cage.

2) Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you. Matt. 6:33

Reserving my energy for what is most important, I refuse to yield to the tyranny of the urgent. Keeping a firm grasp on what IS significant is not always simple or easy. (And once I write it down, I may quickly misplace the paper....)

But: neatly folded piles of laundry are not as important as stopping to assure my teen that her struggle at school IS important to me and to God, and that He will give her wisdom to sort through it, etc. "And, yes, I do have time to pray with you about it now...."

Taking the time to encourage another (a card, a call, a smile, a visit) is much more important than my favorite book/show/recipe/coffee stop or crossing off all items on my errand list.

What would God put at the top of my to-do list, I rightly should ask, at the start of each day?

The rest He is quite capable of taking care of, or of letting me do without, should He choose.

Live for eternity.

Run fast and hard in this world for the prize in the other.

Be a smiling gerbil on that wheel who knows when it stops, the reward is well worth it.

"Well done"

Lord, in the frantic, busy times of life may you firmly hold my rudder to your will and priorities. And may you ever keep my heart fixed and resting in you, distracted or consumed by no one and nothing else. ~Amen