"I'm of the opinion that busyness is a deeper threat to the soul than pornography ever was."
–Gordon MacDonald
Now that I have your attention…You may not agree with the guy, but at least hear him out on the busyness thing. Besides, he’s not saying it’s not a problem; he’s just trying to draw our attention to something else that competes for our attention.
And think about it: What’s your number one excuse for not creating space for God? For me, it’s busyness. (Later I’ll point out why I think “busyness” isn’t the real problem. But, for now, it does seem to be the defense of choice.) I read that scripture from Deuteronomy and I see the command to make a place for God when I “lie down” and when I “get up.” But, by the time we lie down at night, after scouts or gymnastics or homework and getting the kids in bed and their clothes and lunches ready for the next day, I just want to watch a little TV and then go to sleep. And when I rise in the morning, it takes all of my energy not to hit the snooze button just so we can get one kid on the bus and ourselves ready for the day’s work. It’s hard to think about making space for God there, too. I can see why MacDonald says busyness (or our perceived busyness) is a problem.
Add to that the irony that Sunday, our “Sabbath/Day of rest,” isn’t any better than any other day of the week. I rush out the door to get here early in the morning, because I work here. Most of the rest of you are scrambling just to get here on time. (As would I, were it not my job to be here on time.)
And in the midst of this reality, we have gone and made it our mission to listen for God this year. We are dedicating ourselves to hearing God speak in our lives in spite of however hectic and hurried our lives have become.
As we’ll see in this Sunday, sometimes God speaks spontaneously, but sometimes he speaks because he is invited. Sometimes he speaks because a space is created for him. I don’t know what your morning has been like, but you have an opportunity to invite him to speak to you today. I hope you’ll make a space.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6)