Busyness as Usual

Life is demanding. Whether one is depressingly poor or is excessively rich, much time is required to pressures of having food on the table for the former and in maintaining, if not increasing, one’s fortune for the latter. Even those in between are torn between spending quality time with family and meeting endless demands at work.

In the past, I kept a tight schedule of activities: juggling work assignments with civic commitments; stretching time for family and teaching in the university; plus meeting deadlines in column writing and finding some moments for artistic endeavours. The frenzy seemed to go on forever – and I thought the busyness was the reason for being. Then it stopped abruptly. I migrated to New Zealand and found myself out of work for 9 months. The first two months seemed fine as a fitting break from 30 years of working, but by the third month, depression crept in when rejections from job applications started to pile up.

Then I found more time to reading the Scriptures, writing reflections, joining Couples for Christ and founding TawagAwit. From busyness as usual, I found more meaning and fulfilment doing God’s business."Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men...It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23, 24) Now, the ‘8-to-5’ job I currently hold seems like a breeze as I start each morning with prayers and reflection on the gospel of the day; and hum new songs throughout the day inspired by readings. Not only do I look forward to the weekly gatherings of TawagAwit when we pray and sing to the Lord, but also to the prayer time with family members. It is amazing that as we give priority to God’s business, He puts order in our lives, freeing us from the pressures of the world and the temptations of Satan.

Fools work for their own satisfaction, while the true follower of Christ works selflessly for others. "Don’t be fools; be wise: make the most of every opportunity you have for doing good." (Ephesians 5:16) Life on earth is a test given by a perfect God. Our priority in the use of our time should therefore be focused beyond four square meals each day or amassing earthly treasures. So it was asked in the Old Testament:"What profit hath man of all his labor wherein he laboreth under the sun?" (Ecclesiastes 1:3) So it was responded to in the New Testament: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life in the eternal kingdom of God]?" (Mark 8:36)

We must set our eyes on the promise of limitless joy with the Lord who keeps tab on how well we spend our limited lifetime in this world.

by Mel Libre