Getting Away From Me

As Summer has zoomed by (as per usual) I finally noticed that I hadn't sat down and jotted down any thoughts for my daily dose in a while. In fact - the entirety of August, thus far. But let's be honest - sometimes I am super busy time just gets away from me. I don't mean for it to happen. I don't plan for it to happen. I guess I do, however, expect it to happen.

It seems like in our current age that EVERYONE is busy. Nah - let's call it what it truly is. TOO BUSY! Even people that don't do anything 'extra' are still too busy. We don't have kids in school activities and clubs yet. Aside from the life at our church, we aren't involved in civic or school organizations. But sometimes it still feels like we're going a mile a minute. How do we try to combat that? What are we doing to be intentional about 'slowing down'? Well - for starters - we eat together. At a table. As a family. Several times a week. And if we really want to shake things up - we even turn off the TV. I know, right?

We also take family walks and play out in the yard as the sun begins to set and it cools off. Being outside in God's creation with my family is one of my favorite things to do. Plus - we get the chance to visit with our neighbors that are outside doing whatever. It's neat to feel part of a community. You just need to slow down and take time to do it.

This idea of time 'getting away from us' is very prevalent in the church world. It was so encouraging to see our attendance on the rise after Easter and on through Spring. And then... Memorial Day hit. Summer had started and those numbers began to drift back down. People aren't home in the summer. People must vacation more than ever, I guess. Or they're playing baseball, softball, basketball on most Sundays. At our church we even try to accommodate those that either are busy on Sundays or take that as their only day off for the week by offering a Friday night service. It's great! Finish work - go to a high energy worship service - go to Applebee's - and go home! It's perfect! But some folks would rather just not attend a service at all. They're too busy and their free time could be better spent.

Of all the things in this life that we give our time to - how many will take us through the next 5 years? 12 years? Will it pay for college? Will be make it to the pros? Will the choices we make now effect anyone else's lives? Or how about this one... Are our priorities making what's 'eternal' our focus? Are we focused on living for Jesus and sharing Him with the world? Or are we too busy doing other stuff? Is time getting away from us? Let's make time...