I may be retired, but as so many "retireds" know, it doesn't mean that we are idle. It means that we have more time to do things that we want to do, or at least, we can choose what we will do. That, at any rate, is the theory. The reality is that I am just as busy as ever. Having decided to be involved in one thing or another, tasks seem to mushroom into colliding commitments and too-full days. I do it to myself. There is so much that is worthwhile to do. But sometimes, I fear that I will lose myself in the midst of it all and drown in a sea of "gotta do's".

I'm not alone. It seems as if everyone that I talk to is like that, at whatever stage of life they are. Perhaps it is a tactic of the enemy to keep us from doing the important things. So, I'm having a dinner party for my neighbours tomorrow. In the middle of winter, we don't see each other much. I look forward to the singles and couples who will be here. It's not a big group — small enough to chat and catch up, to sense where they are at in their lives. One couple who moved to the neighbourhood this past summer are young, very busy "marrieds", no kids. They are so busy that I'm not even sure of his name, although I heard it in passing. So I look forward to building some community.

Connecting with people is so important in our world, be they brothers and sisters in Christ or not. It is an opportunity to reach out and draw out some of the people who are so busy that they haven't time to think or breathe. We never know where it will take us. I think of Jesus in the marketplace, talking to ordinary people. He always had time for them:

Luke 10:38 – Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. (RSV)

Luke 11:37 – While he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him; so he went in and sat at table. (RSV)

Luke 14:1 – One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him. (RSV)

John 4:6-7 – Jacob's well was there, and so Jesus, wearied as he was with his journey, sat down beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." (RSV)

I pray that He might start something among us in our time. It is worth the risk.

Thought: Am I so busy with "stuff" that I am missing something?

Prayer: Lord, the world is such a busy place. Help us to be busy about Your business. Amen.

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About the author:

Nan St. Louis <nanstlouis1@gmail.com>
Durham, Ontario, Canada
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