Too Busy for God?

My daily train-to-work reading often involves RBC Ministries Our Daily Bread devotions. In April of 2010, writer Dennis Fisher asked “Is your life too busy?”

My gut reaction, like most Americans, was Yes. Even my “retired” friends have as many or more commitments than when they were working full-time. But, as I thought about my schedule, I had to wonder whether that was really true. Regardless of the details, do I, as Mr. Fisher states, use that as an excuse to avoid spending time with God or in Godly pursuits?

Even if I did use it as an excuse, Fisher shows us there is no excuse and easily counters our daily grind with a quotes by C.S. Lewis: “no one was busier than Christ” who listed several ways Jesus was busy. For the practicing Christian, he echoes the sentiments of our February Lecture Series speaker, Rev. Earl Palmer, and our senior pastor, Rev, Ted Wright who lamplight us to Jesus as our model. For them, leadership and mission, respectively. For Fisher, handling a heavy workload:

“Our model is the Jesus . . . of the workshop, the roads, the crowds, the clamorous demands and surly oppositions, the lack of all peace and privacy, the interruptions. For this . . . is the Divine life operating under human conditions.” (ODB, April 29,2010)

Further, Jesus continued to work “after hours.” How did our God who became man cope with these demands? By finding a quiet place to pray. Something we all can do.

During one such prayer session, God gave Jesus another assignment, more work, not less! But, His strength was in knowing He was doing His Father’s work and that the Holy Spirit would tend to Him.

Prolific writer pastor C.H. Spurgeon in his February 12 evening devotion calls us to remember John 14:16 - when Jesus returned to Heaven, he left us, yes even today, with the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. We are not alone. We don’t need a super satellite receiver to hear what God wants us to do. We need but only listen.

Heavenly Father, touch each of Your children today and awaken the Spirit within, give us peace in our circumstances and the wisdom to see Your will in our daily activities, and the strength to do what you want, not what we want. Amen.

Doreen vs the Squirrel

I was born and raised in the city. To me, a pigeon is a WILD animal. I never liked squirrels so kept my distance - in city parks, in forest preserves and in the mountains of New Hampshire where, as teens, we spent summer weekends swimming at Angle Pond.

Amid the bustling of a Chicago spring, my first direct battle with a squirrel occurred in the small park across from our apartment. I tossed my lunch bag into a trash can only to be set upon by a territorial squirrel waving its arms and flicking its tail. I jumped back scared out of my wits and the squirrel chirped in victory.

The Squirrel one. Doreen zero.

Twenty years later, I was, little by little, getting the hang of being a first-time homeowner in the suburbs of DC. The master bath has a window overlooking the roof and this particular fall day, I was busily brushing my teeth with the window open. The squirrels love the cedar shake, high-pitched, roof surrounded by lush, tall pine trees. I usually hear them scurrying across the roof as I got ready for work and that day was no different - except I decided to retaliate!

With my spit cup in hand, I flung the contents through the screen only hitting the squirrel’s left, hind paw. He snorted at me and ran away. I thought I had my long-sought victory in my grasp.

A few minutes later, I heard chattering and ran to the window. Not only had the squirrel returned, but it brought backup! I now had two tormentors! They kept looking at each other, then me, then chattered incessantly to each other.  I quickly realized they were making fun of me!

How could I fight back? The same screen that kept them out also kept me in. The human was the one caged. All I could do was yell back in frustration.

After several minutes, wondering if the neighbors thought the new owner was nuts, I admitted defeat and slinked back to the sink.

The Squirrel two. Doreen zero.