Live from WELS Tech - Caught in "The 'Busy' Trap"?

I attended WELS Tech (a technical conference for our church body) this past weekend and wanted to share some of the thoughts and insights they are sharing here.

WELSTech 2015 #welstechconf

Friday Opening Devotion

Freed from “The ‘Busy’ Trap”

Colossians 3:1-3

by Pastor Mark Parsons

Back in 1965 - some were worried about the excessive amount of leisure time projected for the future (because of time-saving devices and technology).

Projected that by 2020 - we’d only need to work 20 hours a week - and the rest would be leisure time.

In the 1930’s a renowned professor said in the future - no one will have to work more than 2 days a week.

But technology hasn’t done that for us, has it?

It squeezes out downtime and fills it with other stuff.

WE fill it with other stuff.

Time Magazine title recently is “Who killed summer vacation?”.

• The US has the least average paid vacation days (14) of any country in the world.
• The US also has the most unused paid vacation days.

Even if we did vacation - would we be vacationing on our screens?

We are caught up in “The ‘Busy’ Trap” (Tim Kreider).

• How are you?
• Busy.  Crazy busy.
• It’s a boast disguised as a complaint.
• If you are SO busy - it must be good, right?

Are we addicted to busy-ness?

Afraid we’ll fall behind if we are not busy.

If we stop and listen - what might we hear in the silence?

Are we afraid of the moments of silence...

• Where we reflect on who we really are?
• Where we really are?
• Is the silence the judgement of “not-enough-ness”?

Because honestly - we are chasing an impossible goal.

• Because what is enough?  
• Enough always equals “more than I have”.

Under the weight of the watchful eye of the law, we will strive to self-justify.

• We hope against all hope that no one sees the fractures in our veneers.
• We hope that no one realizes we are just barely keeping it together.
• The constant nagging voice of the law - or not-enough-ness.

Is there a place that says - YOU don’t have to do this?

You don’t have to run the rat race.

Is there someone who says - YOU don’t have to do this, worry about that, be busy just so you don’t have to think about it.

Jesus in the manger is saying to us - “I’ve got it!”

Jesus on the cross is saying to us - “I’ve got it!”
The ascended Jesus is in heaven saying to us - "Don't you get it, I've GOT IT!".

Jesus says...

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden - and I will give you rest.”

“Martha, Come - stop your toiling.”

“Cast all of your burdens on me.”

At your baptism - you were connected to the voice of life.  Eternal life.

Not the voice of condemnation - of not-enough-ness.

Reconnect with that.

Jesus says - “I’ve got it!”

Colossians 3:3 Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God.He is your life.

Colossians 3:1-3

Pastor closed his devotion by asking us to take 1 minute of silent reflection about how Jesus says “I’ve got it!” to you personally.

Try it.
Amen!

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