I was sitting in traffic in a major city recently – admittedly frustrated but also a bit overwhelmed with the volume of traffic and the potential for multiple mishaps, pile-ups, break-downs, errors in judgement, etc. As the mass of cars began to move, I also realized how easy it would be to miss one’s exit and become totally lost.
Then I began to wonder, “Do I know anyone near here that I could call if I needed help.” I thought of several people but as each name came to mind I thought, “they are way too busy. I can’t imagine they would be able to break away to provide whatever help I might need.
As I continued to reflect on those names I also wondered if there were those who would think the same about me. Do I portray myself as so busy that there really isn’t room for the needs of others? Perhaps more importantly, have I convinced myself that I am so busy that I dread the phone call from a friend in need.
We schedule our lives so full there are few margins for those unexpected opportunities to care for the needs of others. I look at Jesus’ life and realize it was full and yet it seemed unrushed. There was time for people; time to be with His father and time to accomplish what the Father had sent Him to do.
We have become so production/accomplishment focused that having a blank space in the calendar is considered wasted time. Could it be that we would be healthier and actually more productive if there was more white space in our calendars?
