Stop Tyranny of the Urgent in Its Tracks

I’ve been focusing hard on work-life imbalance lately.

You know how it goes. One day it’s January and you’re all resolutioned up about food, finances, and fitness. The next day it’s almost June, you look like you’re at central casting for a zombie apocalypse film, and you wonder what normal people with hobbies do on nights and weekends.

I remember having hobbies. Reagan was president then.

Sigh. Anyone else? Why do we move through life with unsustainable rhythms?

Jesus didn’t model a frenetic life ruled by tyranny of the urgent. He never ran to perform a miracle. He didn’t let His pace rob His peace. He waited by a well, slept through a storm, walked to a friend’s grave, and—even when bad actors plotted to take His life—reclined with friends.

As far as I know, no one is plotting to take my life. And these recent months have delivered exactly what I prayed for—I’ve signed four contracts, all of which have created opportunities to write stories of redemption and hope. But too much good work is just bad balance. If I can’t find time to wait, walk, sleep, and recline, then my offering may reflect His heart but not His soul.

If your body, your people, or the very Spirit of God working within you is telling you to slow your roll, I invite you to walk (not run because, exhaustion) with me to the nearest exit out of central casting.

If we’re constantly feeding the next mouth rather than eating from God’s hand, eventually we hunger and thirst. The people around us suffer. The work of our hands wears thin. And the easy yoke Jesus invites us to wear starts not to fit.

No one will hand balance to us. We have to crave it. We have to carve it.