When I ask how people are, the most common response I get? “So very busy.”
What is the impact of busyness? When multiple tasks compete for the same moment, we must choose. Some say these choices reveal our true priorities. If we can do only one thing, we gravitate toward the most important. Do we?
As I sat in my front porch rocker beginning my time with the Lord, I noticed my plants. They needed water—desperately. As I rose to get the water can, a voice spoke, “Are you going to put me off again?”
Already I had delayed getting alone with God in order to empty the dishwasher, fold laundry, and ensure the coffee was brewing. Was I going to delay Him longer? Was it truly more important to water plants than talk with God? Than to be filled for the day with His love and presence? Than to ask Him what I was to do with the day He had given? I knew that if I interrupted my time with God for one more task, the day’s demands would escalate and I would never return to that rocker.
So often we attend to the immediate rather than the important. Sometimes we have no choice. The immediate must happen—or nothing happens. If the gas tank is dry, the children hungry, or the bill due—we must attend to those immediate concerns in order for the rest of life to keep going. Yet, our lives are ultimately defined by our actions. Where we put our energy and time becomes our legacy. If our actions attend solely to the immediate, we create a legacy we live to regret.
I recently spoke with a man about his impending retirement. He looked forward to finally settling down to being a dad. Given that his children were 39 and 36 respectively, he worried that he might be too late. He knew the important had slipped by while he was attending to the immediate.
The answer? Have a clear vision of what is important—then plan for it. If spending time teaching your children about the truths of God is important, plan specific times in your day to teach your children.
If building intimacy with your spouse is important, set aside time to be alone together. Think about what you want your spouse to know and plan for moments to share those thoughts. Plan fun dates.
If staying close to a friend is important—reserve lunches, write letters, make time for phone calls.
These never seem immediate. They are easily pushed to the backburner thinking, “I’ll get to that later.” Because they are so important, we are sure we will. Yet, so often we don’t. The immediate just keeps coming—stealing moment after moment until we fall into bed resolving to do better tomorrow.
This morning I sat back in my rocker to continue my already too often interrupted time with God. If I had to choose, the flowers were going to die. The immediate would not rob the important again.
Fortunately, I was able to do both. In my time with God, He led me to set a priority of chatting with my daughter. I asked her to come onto the porch with me, and she noticed the plants. She loves watering so we spent the next half hour happily chatting and watering together. Choose the important. Once in place, you’ll find a way to get to the immediate, too. Even the flowers will survive.
