When you are "crazy busy," how can you simplify your life?

by Janet Keisel

Years ago Herbert W. Armstrong admonished members of the Church of God to simplify our lives. I think most of us are still working on this, trying to find our rhythm.

We live in a hectic world where we are pulled in many directions, trying to "do it all." We have to make choices every day as to where our time and energy will be spent. I've been giving a lot of thought to this subject of being "crazy busy," as Edward Hallowell describes it in his book by that title, Crazy Busy.

Many of us try to do two things at once—"multitasking," as it is commonly called in our modern world. Dr. Hallowell points out that "multitasking is like playing tennis with two balls, or three or four. When what you are doing is important, multitasking is a practice to be avoided. It is a myth that you can perform two tasks simultaneously as well as you can perform one." So if multitasking isn't the answer, what is?

A Martha World

I've been reading the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver. She starts the book by putting into her own words how she thinks Martha felt when Jesus came to the door.

Martha would be thrilled to prepare a meal for Jesus and His disciples. This must be no ordinary meal—it is for THE Messiah. So she is sending the servants here and there . . . kill the fatted calf, soak the lentils, knead the dough . . . so much to do . . . Where's Mary? If Mary would just help, I could have time to fashion an ark from the goat cheese and carve the fruit into little animals marching two by two (pages 3-4).

As I find myself busy with too many things to do, I ask myself, "Am I carving an ark out of goat cheese?" We need balance in our lives in order to get the important things done. There may be a time for carving arks out of cheese (I'm not so sure about the animals carved from fruit), but we must be careful not to put too much emphasis on those things and not enough on the "better part," as Christ told Martha.

The Wagon

The book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World tells a story that gives a visual aid for sorting out what is important and helping us to achieve that balance.

The story is told of a man who met God one day. God asked him to take a wagon with three stones to the top of the mountain. God gave the man specific instructions, sketching a map in the dust. The man cheerfully set off pulling the wagon behind him.

As he was going through a small village, a friend stopped him and asked him what he was doing. He explained that he was taking the wagon of rocks to the top of the mountain. The friend became excited as he explained he was just thinking about how he was going to get his rock to the top of the mountain, and would the man be willing to take the rock in his wagon as well? Happily the man with the wagon took the friend's rock and started on his way.

As he went along, more and more people asked him to take their rocks with him until the wagon grew fuller and fuller. The wagon felt huge and awkward as it lumbered and swayed over the ruts in the road. No longer was the man singing praises. Instead resentment began to build inside. Frustrated, the man was beginning to have visions of giving up and letting the wagon roll backward.

About that time God came to his side and asked what the problem was. "You gave me a job that is too hard for me," the man sobbed. God walked over to the wagon. "What is this?" He held up a big piece of shale and tossed it on the ground. The man explained about his friend who asked him to bring that up the mountain. God continued to unload the wagon, removing both light and heavy items until only the three stones God had given him were left in the wagon.

"Let others shoulder their own belongings," God said gently. "I know you were trying to help, but when you are weighted down with all these cares, you cannot do what I have asked of you" (pages 51-52).

Of course, unlike the man in the story, we generally pick up "rocks"—possessions, activities, cares and worries—all on our own. Usually burdens put on us by friends are not the problem.

As is the case of all analogies, it doesn't follow through completely. Obviously there are times when we do need to help our brethren and carry some of their rocks. Certainly I'm not saying we don't need to serve. The Christian life is all about balance. Teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom (Psalm 90:12). We have to use our time wisely.

So it's good to focus on what God has asked us to do: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments for this is the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Unloading Rocks

When we are feeling overwhelmed with too much to do, we need to dump some rocks out of our wagon. We need to look at what we are doing and decide if we are carrying unnecessary rocks. If we are, then throw them out of the wagon.

Sometimes an extra rock we carry is our worry about a problem that is out of our control. Maybe you feel someone has made a wrong decision. If you aren't asked for advice, sometimes you have to just tell yourself "that is his/her rock." You may be able to unload a rock by talking to your pastor, and then putting the worry out of your mind. There are times those rocks are heavy and hard to get out of your wagon.

Sometimes it is a matter of prioritizing the rocks—examining what is taking your time and deciding which things are worthy of your time and which are not. Then go about dumping rocks.

After reading this wagon of rocks story, I find myself thinking, "That's not my rock" or "That rock isn't important." In my mind I toss it out. This concept helps me to let go.

Recently we had the opportunity to have our granddaughters stay with us for several days. As the time went on, the house became messier and messier, but the time with my grandchildren was more important. As my friend pointed out, Emily, Allison and Daylin are more important rocks than a clean house.

A friend of mine has labeled her three rocks: Christian, Wife and Mother/Grandmother. Then she can look at what she's doing and see if it falls into those primary categories. You can use the analogy however it best fits your life.

God's Rocks

God must come first—His rocks are the most important. We've all heard the story about putting the big rocks in a jar first, then filling it with smaller rocks, sand and water. We have to put the big rocks in first or we'll never get them in later.

We are told in Romans 12 that the Body of Christ has many members, each with a different gift. That means we all have different jobs to do. Certainly we need to be involved in service (faith without works is dead, James 2:20). But we don't have to be involved in every good service or we will be so busy doing things, we won't have time for the basics: Bible study, prayer and fasting and building our relationship with God.

What's in Your Wagon?

There is a commercial that asks, "What's in your wallet?" I'd like to ask, "What's in your wagon?" Are you overloaded with unimportant rocks taking up your time and energy? Many times the things we are involved with are positive things. But if you're reading so many other books (even if they are good books) that you don't have time to read the Bible, then you have to throw out some rocks.

Gardening is a wonderful thing, but if gardening takes so much time and energy that you don't have time for your family, some rocks must go. Fellowship is an important part of the Sabbath, but if you aren't taking time for extra prayer and Bible study on the Sabbath, unload a few rocks.

Take a look at the rocks in your wagon. I hope this analogy can help us all to choose "the better part" as Mary did (Luke 10:42). UN