Busyness Redefined

I regularly ask myself, "Am I too busy?"  Like most people, my schedule is full and I have to be pretty creative to get everyone where they need to be.  The interior of the car serves as dining room, prayer room, library, movie theater, coffee shop...you get the picture.  Some people are surprised to hear how much homeschoolers are not at home!  Think about it:  everything but actual bookwork is in other buildings (in another town!)...choir, gym, play practice, out-of-town games.  And I am THE BUS DRIVER! 

So back to my original question:  Am I too busy?  Are we over- committed?

No.  And here is why:  like Jesus, I do ministry "as I go."  If you read through the gospels, you note the oft-repeated phrase,"As Jesus was on his way..."  Did he even have a home?  He always had a destination, but he constantly stopped to minister, heal, pray, teach, love, and serve along the way.  He knew his purpose, and it wasn't just to arrive at the next thing on time.  It was to do his Father's work. 

I wake early each morning to meet with God and ask Him to direct my day.  I fill out my daily schedule and then acknowledge that the day is in His hands.  At the end of the day, I reflect a bit.  It's encouraging to realize that on most days, I am able to keep to the schedule, AND minister along the way, engage with people, notice little things to be thankful for, connect with my kids, serve a nice dinner.  It's about paying attention and inclining my ear toward God.  It's about having a swirling spiritual awareness on one level, while I move and breath in the temporal world. 

Yesterday, I received an e-mailed prayer request to my women's Bible study group.  A woman asked for prayers as her husband prepared to leave for a business trip to China.  Simple enough, but God gave me the insight to read between the lines.  He reminded me how it felt to send my husband into the exotic, temptation-filled world of Asia.  I stopped immediately to e-mail her.  The floodgates opened.  There was much to minister to between the lines. 

I was tired after a long day yesterday, and happy that I would have the evening home.  Then my daughter got sick and couldn't babysit for my friend's "small group" gathering...17 kids!  So I went in her place.  I got to read to a sweet toddler, hold a 5-day old baby, and have lovely conversations with some beautiful friends at the end of the night. 

When the kids were little, I wanted to be out more.  Now I want to be home more.  But my purpose does not change based on my stage of life.  I can glorify and serve God in all things...changing diapers, scrubbing dishes, spearheading fundraisers, performing concerts, emailing, blogging, babysitting, cleaning cat puke, driving the bus.  My home is a haven; my family is a gift and a mission; but there is much good to be done "on the way."