What Matters Most

Hi friends,

It's been so long since I posted a blog (6 weeks in fact) I bet you've given up on me. A couple of my blog friends have hinted a few times that I haven't written anything lately. I had an extremely busy month through May ministry wise, then I got quite sick, then went on leave for a week at the end of May. On my return from leave both my work and home computer died within hours of each other, so there's my excuse. On computer fixed, still waiting on the other.

In the meantime I’ve had so many ideas fro blog posts that I can't keep up and now don't have the time to wrote them all. However you will see a few appear over the next few days.

Speaking of computers, isn't it amazing in this wonderful world of ours, how much computers have helped us and now how much we rely on them. Seriously, my computer now organizes my life, all my documents and address book and diary are on my computer and it sync's with my phone so I can take everything with me where ever I go. In fact I can pack so much into my day because my diary has every moment planned out. I cute little tone rings from my phone reminding me of what I have to do next or where I have to be. As long as there is an allotted space in my outlook diary I can say 'yes' to almost anything. That is of course until part of my technology breaks down and suddenly I find myself in a chaotic panic as has been my experience this past 2 weeks. However without my computer I've actually found more spaces. I don't have instant access to email for example therefore people don't have instant access to me and I find it has actually been more relaxing. In a way this imposition has forced me to say no to some things in order to say yes to more life giving things.

A colleague of mine I use to work with had a saying, ‘say no to the good to say yes to the best’. He said this too me as I first began my vocation in ministry and I didn’t quite get what it meant until I began to realize in my youth and enthusiasm, that I was saying yes to far too many things. I got a reputation in college as being an over committer, I was involved in too many ministries, on too many committees and could not give my best to any of them.

Rob Bell is a speaker I have come to enjoy. He is the minister of an alternative ‘emerging’ church in the USA and has become more famously known through his DVD series called Nooma. On these DVD’s Rob offers commentary on the everyday things of life out of which emerges a great hermeneutical reflection of how the Gospel might speak to us today. His latest DVD addition to the series is called ‘Shells’.

In ‘Shells’ he shares this story about a boy who was walking on the beach with his parents. As he walked he noticed all these beautiful shells, so he begins to pick them up. As he collects his prizes, his hands fill up with all these shells. Then, in the shallows of the water he spots the ultimate prize, a starfish floats waiting to be claimed. His parents encourage him to go after it so he does. He wades into the water then in utter frustration he turns around and comes back. This happens several times, he gets a little closer to the starfish then in frustration turns and comes back. His parents ask him, what’s wrong? Why won’t you pick up the starfish?’ The boy responds, ‘my hands are full of shells'.

I can relate to that! It’s so easy to pick up all those amazing and wonderful things either because you’re needed or because you’re passionate about it or, just because you can. But how often do you get to the point where your schedule is so full that you no longer have the time. No time for friends, no time for family, no time for life. The most common phrase that escapes your mouth is, ‘I’m just too busy!’ Are you really? Or are you just saying yes to the wrong things? There are plenty of things that demand our time that don’t really matter.

As we read the stories that unfold through the Gospels, we get the impression Jesus had an amazingly busy schedule yet there are times when you read, Jesus actually said no. There are times when Jesus says no to the crowd and turns them away so as to have time to pray, time to be with his Father. We look to Jesus as an example for living our lives, but how often do we see Jesus as the one who sometimes says no in order to say yes to the best?

It would seem very countercultural for many of us if we were to say no to something that most would expect you to say yes to, because you needed time to be, time to pray and reconnect with God. It almost seems abnormal to have big spaces in your week where your not committed. Let me ask you a question. What are the priority tasks and appointments you schedule in your diary? Work? Sport? Parties and celebrations? A favourite hobby? Time with the kids? Meetings for work, church or community groups? When was the last time you opened your diary to the coming week and you blacked out a section just to be in communion with God? Foolishness I know, but I reckon Jesus did it regularly, he knew he had to it's what gave meaning to his mission.

This all raises questions for me about what matters most? What takes priority in your life and how's that working out for you? One of my greatest offenses against my soul and being is opening my diary at the beginning of the month and making sure I have all my work meetings scheduled in. scheduling retreat time to be aware of God's presence sadly drops down the list some way. Being without my diary for a time has at least given me that opportunity to step back and contemplate what matters most.

May your hands not be too full. May you say yes to the things that give you life. May you be blessed with a balanced life.

Shalom Mark