Defeat the Culture of Busy

"I'm busy."

What does that mean?

I can't help to think that we've done it to ourselves. We work way too many hours to make it or to keep up with others or because we're afraid what will happen if we don't slow down. We don't sleep. We eat crazy and convenient. We don't talk to each other. We think we're honest with ourselves on what we do with our time. But are we?

I think of my own schedule. I count myself in that number above. Add being back in school and exercising four times a week on top of it and I can claim to be "busy." However, I can also count myself in another number: I find the time to use social media, watch my share of TV, and complain about being tired. By firing up the Google machine, I find I'm not alone.

The question then I wrestle with is, "am I wasting time?" Am I really busy?

I challenge the idea of wasting time on social media. Sure, I gave most of it up for Lent, but I know what it does for me. I connect to the people and the things I love on the platforms. I keep motivated towards being better. Admittedly, I overuse when I need mental escape and diversion. Best of all, I engage in debate. For better or worse, we have no real water coolers or public squares to do this. Twitter and Facebook may have to do for a while.

And TV, well...we've talked about the role of television in my life. It is an important vehicle of culture. I have done better in this Lenten season: I don't just let the TVs in my home blare on with no purpose. I've started going to bed: turning everything off to lay down and close my eyes on purpose rather than letting MSNBC drone me to wonky dreams.

(Sidenote: I somehow accidentally fell into a YouTube hole last week and found a show from New Zealand. Why y'all ain't tell me about Shortland Street???)

Now working out - this journey to stay healthy is a long one. Not only fighting the beast that is obesity - cardio and weight training is contributing to my mental and spiritual balance. I feel better. It's the closest thing (other than this) I can call a hobby. So it stays.

I can't leave out my Toastmasters family, my church life, or my family. All are important.

But I'm too busy for important things? I haven't read a book for pleasure for months (yes, it's been a rough Lent.) My writing has suffered. I just revived my love for going to the theatre with the last Madea play and the movie Us. I should be doing so much more. I also rediscovered my stove recently. Before I wore out them apps and bought lunch because...y'know. Yet it was costing my money and calories. Now I have rediscovered the magic of preparing my own lunch. (Coffee is still outsourced.) Who knows how great I could be if I meditated longer, read more of the Bible, or called more friends or family. But I'm...well...busy.

When often I hear someone say "I'm busy," I can't help but hear like a bad dub "it's not a priority for me." Isn't that what you really mean?

And when I consider that, I also consider how devastating that is. When family and friends skip my number to invite me to events; when people assume I can't join them on trips; when co-workers leave me out of that meeting.

They all assume I'm busy.

We must defeat the culture of busy.

Here's what it's costing us. We're not just not connecting to each other. We're losing the ability to do it right. If you're unsure, ask yourself when the last time you spoke to a stranger more than five words? Or shared an unsolicited opinion outside of a digital platform? The person-to-person connections I figured as a child I had to get ready for as an adult are just few and far between. Because I'm busy.

We look up from the workbench or computer not to observe who and what's around us but to glean news from blips on screens and lower-thirds while we pass TVs by. We worship in shorter and smaller contexts if at all. We're so afraid to tell our loved ones what we believe because we're afraid it will tear us apart.

So we say we're too busy for it.

I don't want to be too busy anymore. And while I consider managing my schedule I believe more it's the attention of the heart to be available. Intentionally. I want to remove "too busy" from my vocabulary. And those I care for I hope get more of my time.

We must defeat the culture of busy. We don't have time for it.