I walked in late to find everyone already at their places, seated on the floor of my husband Chuck’s pastoral life coaching office.
To be honest, I wasn’t really in the frame of mind to quietly reflect upon a serious celebratory memorial like the Passover Seder he had spent so many hours preparing for, considering the pace of my day thus far.
Before Church
While I usually take steps to make sure our Sundays aren’t rushed, this week looked more like a mad dash than a leisurely Sabbath morning. I shoved Trader Joe’s breakfast bars in my kids’ hands and packed a baggie of dry Cheerios for me, unsuccessfully tried to convince my 4 year old to get dressed in something other than the same dress she’s been wearing to church for weeks, and headed out the door in just enough time to drop off the kids to their classes. We walked into the worship experience seconds before the last notes of the first song rang through the speakers.
After Church
After service, it was my week to serve at check-in for the children’s area, so Chuck took the kids and I stayed my allotted time. Usually I get to help rock crying babies after things calm down at the guest services desk, but this week I finished up my duties before the baby room volunteers needed another set of hands and managed to sneak in a chapter of the pre-release copy of Rhinestone Jesus I got this past week in the mail for review.
I hopped in my car just as the last notes were played by the worship team in the second service and at this point, I wondered why in the world I thought a snack sized bag of dry Cheerios would be enough breakfast to last until early afternoon.
Back Home
I sped home to relieve Chuck from kid duty and find something in the house to quiet my rumbling stomach. There was quite a bit of setting up to do for the Passover Seder he had planned for our discipleship team and he was working through the last minute details that always seem to come up when you’re planning any event for a group of 15 people.
I quickly slapped some peanut butter on graham crackers, gobbled them up and called them lunch, then made sure the kids were sleeping soundly for a quick afternoon nap. By some miracle they were both still sleeping when it was time to head out for the Passover Seder. I’m always bragging about what sweet kids I have, but this day they decided to prove me wrong. I think it was because I woke them up early from the nap they obviously needed or maybe they just didn’t feel like cooperating, but for whatever reason, both of them decided to scream the entire 10 minute drive from our house to Chuck’s office.
The Passover Seder Begins
As the wife of the leader of the event, I arrived late, frazzled, and mentally ill-prepared for the celebration at hand. I slipped off my shoes, plopped down on my cushy pillow, and made a couple of jokes. And yet, in the middle of my mess, God met me there.
Fifteen Christians from three different churches ranging in age from 23 to 60 gathered together to learn about and celebrate the traditional Passover meal. It was a beautiful picture of community and the importance of remembering God’s past faithfulness.
But instead of reflective and ready to hear from God, I entered this precious time rushed, busy from the activities and responsibilities of the day, and just plain tired.
I was reminded of something I recently read in Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts:
“The busyness of your life leaves little room for the source of your life.”
“The busyness of your life leaves little room for the source of your life.” Ann Voskamp
photo credit: jazbeck via photopin cc
And so, I’m learning to slow down and appreciate the moments. I’m learning the importance of saying “no” and focusing on saying “yes” to only the things God has for me right now in this season of my life. I check it against my “busyness” factor. When I’m busy, I leave out God. And how will I ever grow in faith if I am disconnected from the source of my life?
The Psalmist reminds us:
“We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” Psalm 39:6
Did you catch that? All our busy rushing ends in NOTHING!
Why do we think we need to constantly be more, do more, achieve more, produce more, and accomplish more?
It’s time for us to remember this truth:
“In God we live, move, and exist.” Acts 17:28
It’s only when we’re connected to the source of our life that we truly are filled.
This week, let’s take some time to be intentional about prioritizing time to connect with our source and receive the fullness what He has prepared for our lives instead of busying ourselves with over commitments or wasted time.
What’s one way you’ll commit to prioritizing time to connect with God, the source of our life, this week?
(I’ll get the ball rolling for me…anyone else spending too much time on Facebook?)
This post contains affiliate links that help support the mission & ministry of The Mosaic Life {full disclosure}. Also sharing with Beauty Observed, Essential Fridays, Inspire & Grow, Christian Fellowship Friday, and The Weekend Brew.
Whew, girl! You did have a busy day! And yet there are days when I feel the same rushed harriedness and I only have myself to worry about. Now what does that tell ya? I have felt so busy lately that it is starting to wear me down and I know it’s because I’m allowing the urgent to crowd out the most important. Thanks for the reminder to look at my schedule and what I am allowing to time creep on me. The Passover seder looked wonderful!
Oh yes, I experience the same thing – allowing the urgent to crowd out the most important. Thanks for the reminder to focus on the important first!
intentionally slowing down… such a blessed reminder for us all today!
I’m right there with you girl…I had the EXACT same lunch yesterday, peanut butter on a graham cracker in between Kindergarten Easter party, kid drop off, hair appt., supper and church. Some days it all gets to be too much. Somedays equals more duties than day to do them. I also need to to limit my social networking time…I’ll take that challenge with you for next week. 😉 Thanks for sharing this today…and getting my bum in gear to get less busy so I have more time for the important stuff…and most important people.
Too funny! Well I’m glad I’m not the only one that eats that and calls it “lunch”. Most days at my house equal more duties than day to do them! I’m learning which duties are okay to let go and which ones really need to be done. Sometimes it’s a hard balance and my husband has to remind me to give myself grace.
Thank you for linking-up LeeAnn!:) I can relate to this busyness issue and needed to hear this. Thank you for your honesty and encouragement.
“We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” Psalm 39:6” What a powerful verse!
Simplicity or slowing down is something the Lord has been calling our family to for quite awhile. I love reading other people’s perspective on it.
Thank you for linking-up with Beauty Observed. I always love reading what you post!
I had never read that verse in Psalm in that translation before (NLT) and it definitely hit me in a totally different way. Time for less rushing!
Busyness is stifling. I end my day knowing I’ve been stressed out of my mind and having little to show for it.
I think my challenge for this week is just to remain calm and try not to rush so much. I’ve learned it only makes things worse.
Starting my day with the Lord is the only thing that keeps me on track.
Thanks, LeeAnn.
Sabra,
Yes, rushing really does make things worse, even though it seems counterintuitive. It’s our minds AND our bodies that need to slow down to be renewed by His Spirit daily. What a challenge though it can be with so much on our plates! Praying for a calmness in your spirit this week.
Oh how I crave slow. I know it’s possible. I simply must yield. Have a blessed week!
Oh yes. Emily Freeman’s post about embracing slow touched so many of us. It is okay and good and a blessing!
Love the translation of the verse in Psalms! And the reminder to find our source of strength in God. I am in a season that feels over-committed, and your transparency is like a breath of fresh air – just to know I’m not alone.
Oh Jamie, you are definitely not alone! It has been such a busy season for me as well and most of the time it’s just with things I’ve put on my own “to do” list. I’m my own worst enemy in this area sometimes. This is what I love about this little community The Mosaic Life is creating – authenticity in our messy lives as we seek God daily – and for us to know we’re not alone on the journey! Thanks so much for letting me know you stopped by today.
Your Passover seder looked amazing. Thank you for the reminder to slow down and enjoy my life. Beautiful post.
It really is a neat experience! Although I wasn’t sure what to think the first time my husband suggested it, it’s become something we look forward to hosting and sharing with others.