When I feel like I can’t keep up

Life can move at a frantic pace.  We use all sorts of phrases to describe it.  How many of these have you said?

These days are flying by.
This month has been a blur.
This year is moving so fast.
We’re doing everything at 100 mph.

It’s not just the unrelenting forward progression of time that has us feeling like we can’t keep up…it’s also the volume of events and responsibilities that get jammed into the swiftly moving stream of minutes.  No matter what grade level you’re in, there is homework in nearly every subject.  All of our jobs have multiple projects, events, or responsibilities that must be simultaneously managed.  It’s impossible to stay up-to-date on all the news – local, national, and global.  Social media always has more notifications and content for you to follow up on. 

Our hobbies have the ability to leave us feeling a bit overwhelmed, as well.  Keeping up with multiple sports teams and leagues; the latest movies and streaming shows; and online video games can feel like a part-time job.  Don’t forget to exercise.  And you know you should read that book.  Gotta eat healthy.  Go to church, be involved more than just showing up on Sunday.  The cleaning chores around the house never end, and a broken appliance is never a welcomed situation.  Make friends, keep friends, and be nice to strangers.  Stay in contact with your family, near and far away. 

Then multiply by the number of people in your family.  Add 10 points for good measure, for all the things I forgot to list. 

Oh yeah…and remember everyone (including ourselves) is sinful, broken, and selfish.  That won’t complicate much, will it?

I’m feeling a little stressed just writing all that down.  I imagine you’re feeling the same after reading it.

I was challenged recently with the words Paul wrote to the believers in the region of Galatia.  And with that challenge came a perspective that will help relieve the stress of life’s pace we all feel:

Galatians 5:16
I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.

A little bit later, Paul adds:

Galatians 5:22, 25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

So, if living by the Spirit is living out the fruit of the Spirit in the various parts of our lives, what is Paul talking about when he says to keep in step with the Spirit? 

This is a question of pacing, so I find it super-interesting that just a few verses prior, Paul’s prescribed pace is to walk by the Spirit.  The average human walks a pace of 3 mph.  Looking back at the life of Jesus, we don’t see him hitching a ride on a horse or chariot.  He walked everywhere.  He did life and ministry at a pace of 3 mph.  I have to wonder if we have trouble knowing God’s desire for us or recognizing His leading us because we’re just moving too fast.

If Jesus is moving at 3 mph, and I’m moving at 100 mph – who is following whom?

We must intentionally add slowness into our days.  Carve out some time, protect those boundaries, and put everything on pause for just a few moments.  During that time, ask God to show you His pace for your day.

Doing so will guarantee that you won’t get everything done for the day.  But you will have done the best thing you could do for today.

Keep Pressing,
Ken

I was warned: Don’t go there

We don’t have a fenced in yard, so we walk our dog around our neighborhood twice a day.  Sometimes our walks will take us into the development next to ours.  Not too long ago, as the dog and I were heading down a familiar street in that other development, we spotted someone walking towards us on the opposite side of the road.  He was walking quickly, and I saw that he had a small tube holstered to his belt.

As we got closer, I recognized him as a neighbor from our development.  We’ve exchanged “hellos” a time or two, but I don’t really know him beyond that.  However, as we passed he stopped us and said something I wasn’t expecting to hear:

“Are you planning on walking down the next street?  I’ve been stopping and telling people the last few weeks…because 3 weeks ago I was walking down there and there’s a house that has a vicious boxer out roaming around.  He bit me, and I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.  I hate that they don’t put him on a leash or try to contain him.”

I told him that we don’t normally walk down that way, but I appreciated the warning.  I then realized why he had pepper spray holstered to his side.  Our dog isn’t aggressive by nature, and I wasn’t sure how he would handle a large dog charging at us with teeth bared.  Even if he stood his ground, I wasn’t looking forward to pulling the two of them apart and then looking for a way to safely exit the situation.  Although it’s been a couple of years since we walked down the road he mentioned, I now have no desire to go that way at all.  It’s best to avoid that situation altogether.

His warning reminded me of another warning, one that King Solomon gave to his sons about the influence of the paths we choose.  To help his sons remember his warning, Solomon told them this story:

Proverbs 7:6-23
At the window of my house I looked through my lattice.
I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense.
Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house at twilight,
in the evening, in the dark of the night.

A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home.
Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him,

“I’ve made fellowship offerings; today I’ve fulfilled my vows.
So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I’ve found you.
I’ve spread coverings on my bed – richly colored linen from Egypt.
I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning.  Let’s feast on each other’s love!
My husband isn’t home; he went on a long journey.
He took a bag of silver with him and will come home at the time of the full moon.”

She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.
He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer bounding toward a trap until an arrow pierces its liver,
like a bird darting into a snare – he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

Solomon followed his story with this warning:

Proverbs 7:24-25
Now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words from my mouth.
Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways; don’t stray onto her paths.

The young man’s downfall began…because of the path he chose.  His actions weren’t accidental.  He specifically crossed the street near her corner before strolling down the road to her house.  He even knew the best time of day to just “be in the neighborhood”.  Solomon’s warning is clear: Don’t stray onto her paths!

Solomon’s advice is just as practical today as it was for his sons.  Recent workplace statistics, presented by Forbes, found that 40% of workplace romances involve cheating on an existing partner and 50% of respondents admitted to flirting with their coworkers.  We must recognize the paths we walk and the repercussions of the choices we make.  Actively safeguard your marriage.  Don’t respond to so-called “innocent” flirtatious advances and don’t give off any signals of your own.  Do not seek a listening ear from your opposite-gender colleagues when you’re at odds with your partner.  Many workplace romances begin due to comfortability and familiarity…but if you’re already taken, you need to be wary of becoming “too comfortable” or “too familiar” with the people you spend large portions of your day with. 

The consequences of this path are going to be deadly – to you, your relationships, your integrity, your reputation, your career, and your future. 

I’m warning you – Don’t go there.

Keep Pressing,
Ken