Rushing Towards the Next Thing
Last week was a nightmare –but it vanished as quickly as came. Thinking back now to what happened it seems like a dream – and parts of it were a nightmare.
One week ago I sat in a restaurant with friends enjoying a celebration of a prison release. Within an hour the same man that was released was back in prison again.
One week ago someone that was healthy is now facing heart surgery – they were told of their problem having never known there was a problem.
One week ago I had hoped to get a task done – but it is still shelved until there is time. Someday it will happen. Meanwhile life will rush into my spaces with every increasing demand.
Have you ever wanted to just shout – ENOUGH!? I AM GETTING OFF THIS DIZZY MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE! I HAVE HAD IT!
I am always rushing toward the next thing with a genuine knowledge that there will be another 1000 things waiting just over the next hill of experience.
Why? What purpose is there in this rushed routine? Why am I here?
As I shared with a young care giver who is frustrated with what he is doing, my heart went out to him. He is in the ‘care business’ with older people and at times the need is so great he finds little left over for his family. The age and space that he is at in his life leaves no room for the “good things” – because he is caught rushing to the next appointment – and if he doesn’t get there on time, some one will be angry and he could lose his job if they complain. He is needed to get people up in the morning and then dress them. He is needed at the end of the day to undress them and tuck them in. He is not always appreciated for what he has to do… and it can take up to 12 to 15 hours to do it all.
I have a few years left doing what I do… he has more than 20. But we are the same... surrounded by important demands we are caught juggling the “today demands” that storm at us from every side.
The two words that surfaced in our conversation are important ones – “Urgency” and “Passion”. Both words can help us to get going today. An urgency to get a call done today with a possibility of helping someone gets me ready for what will happen. A passion to care for people will add the quality of love to what I do for them.
It is when the urgency and passion are out of order that it destroys lives. Many times it will be personal habits that take over and gobble up huge amounts of time… even destroying a life.
As a minister that last factor keeps me in business. I am dealing with out of order “urgency” and “passion” all the time as I help pick up broken lives.
My prayer today…
“Oh God today – I just want to live this day with a renewal of urgency to live a life of passion. God help me to include a few people in that renewal – but also help me to keep a little for myself. Finally God, I ask that you would help me to save a little urgency and passion just for times with you. Thank you God – I feel a little better all ready. Sorry I have to run now… but I have a million things to do. Talk to you tomorrow.”
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
One week ago I sat in a restaurant with friends enjoying a celebration of a prison release. Within an hour the same man that was released was back in prison again.
One week ago someone that was healthy is now facing heart surgery – they were told of their problem having never known there was a problem.
One week ago I had hoped to get a task done – but it is still shelved until there is time. Someday it will happen. Meanwhile life will rush into my spaces with every increasing demand.
Have you ever wanted to just shout – ENOUGH!? I AM GETTING OFF THIS DIZZY MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE! I HAVE HAD IT!
I am always rushing toward the next thing with a genuine knowledge that there will be another 1000 things waiting just over the next hill of experience.
Why? What purpose is there in this rushed routine? Why am I here?
As I shared with a young care giver who is frustrated with what he is doing, my heart went out to him. He is in the ‘care business’ with older people and at times the need is so great he finds little left over for his family. The age and space that he is at in his life leaves no room for the “good things” – because he is caught rushing to the next appointment – and if he doesn’t get there on time, some one will be angry and he could lose his job if they complain. He is needed to get people up in the morning and then dress them. He is needed at the end of the day to undress them and tuck them in. He is not always appreciated for what he has to do… and it can take up to 12 to 15 hours to do it all.
I have a few years left doing what I do… he has more than 20. But we are the same... surrounded by important demands we are caught juggling the “today demands” that storm at us from every side.
The two words that surfaced in our conversation are important ones – “Urgency” and “Passion”. Both words can help us to get going today. An urgency to get a call done today with a possibility of helping someone gets me ready for what will happen. A passion to care for people will add the quality of love to what I do for them.
It is when the urgency and passion are out of order that it destroys lives. Many times it will be personal habits that take over and gobble up huge amounts of time… even destroying a life.
As a minister that last factor keeps me in business. I am dealing with out of order “urgency” and “passion” all the time as I help pick up broken lives.
My prayer today…
“Oh God today – I just want to live this day with a renewal of urgency to live a life of passion. God help me to include a few people in that renewal – but also help me to keep a little for myself. Finally God, I ask that you would help me to save a little urgency and passion just for times with you. Thank you God – I feel a little better all ready. Sorry I have to run now… but I have a million things to do. Talk to you tomorrow.”
~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Thursday, February 01, 2007
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home