Crazy Busy
Things I Highlighted is a bulleted list of particular sentences in a book that stuck out to me. These cannot be viewed as general summaries of books, but rather parts of books that struck me in a way that demanded more of my attention. Typically I share one thing I highlighted from each chapter, so they will appear in the same order they appear in the book. This version of Things I Highlighted will cover Crazy Busy, a book that discusses humans' innate busyness and how this frenetic pace poses a serious threat to our physical, social and even spiritual well-being.
Crazy Busy
Chapter 1: Hello, My Name is Busy
Some books are written because the author knows something people need to know. Others because the author has seen something people should see. I'm writing this book to figure out things I don't know and to work on change I have not yet seen. More than any other book I've worked on, this one is for me.
Chapter 2: Here, There and Gone: Three Dangers to Avoid
Is it any wonder that the most stressed-out people on the planet live in the most affluent countries?
We've heard countless sermons warning us about the dangers of money. But the real danger comes after you spend the money. Once you own it you need to keep it clean, keep it working, and keep up with the latest improvements. If the worries of life don't swamp us, the upkeep will.
Chapter 3: The Killer P's
Think of it this way: Good hospital-ity is making your home a hospital. The idea is that friends and family and the wounded and weary people come to your home and leave helped and refreshed.
We get worked up and crazy busy in all the wrong ways because we are more concerned about looking good than with doing good.
Chapter 4: The Terror of Total Obligation
We all have a cross to carry. But it's a cross that kills our sins, smashes our idols and teaches us the folly of self-reliance. It's a cross that says I'll do anything to follow Jesus, not a cross that says I have to do everything for Jesus.
Chapter 5: Mission Creep
(Mark 1:35-39). We think of this passage as a call to prayer. And it is. But just as much it's a remarkable statement of how resolutely the Son of Man stayed on mission. Jesus amazes me. His incarnation, his resurrection, his ascension, his exaltation - these defy description. But I'm also amazed by the more mundane things about his life, like the fact that he never uttered a thoughtless word, never spent a wasted day, never strayed from his Father's plan.
I have often marveled to think that Jesus was so terrifically busy, but only with the things he was supposed to be doing.
Chapter 6: A Cruel Kindergarchy
I worry that many young parents are too sure that every decision will set their kids on an unalterable trajectory to heaven or hell. It's like my secretary at the church once told me: 'Most moms and dads think they are either the best or the worst parents in the world, and both are wrong.'
They will remember our character before they remember our exact rules regarding television and biscuits.
Chapter 7: Deep Calls to Deep
Because we understand our worth as image-bearers and our identity as children of God, we will not look to the Internet to prove that we are important, valuable and loved.
Chapter 8: Rhythm and Blues
People like to say life is a marathon, not a sprint, but it's actually more like a track workout. We run hard and then rest hard. We charge up a hill and then glug down a sports drink. We do some stairs, then some 200s, and then a few 400s. In between, we rest. Without it, we'd never finish the workout. If we want to keep going, we have to learn how to stop. Just like the Israelites had in their calendar, we need down time each day, and a respite each week, and seasons of refreshment throughout the year. We can't run incessantly and expect to run very well.
Sometimes the best preparation is a wandering, soul-enriching procrastination. Take a nap, throw the Frisbee, sing a song, and then write the paper. The land won't produce a harvest if it never lies fallow. We can't be 'all in' all the time.
Chapter 9: Embracing the Burdens of Busyness
The antidote to busyness of soul is not sloth and indifference. The antidote is rest, rhythm, death to pride, acceptance of our own finitude and trust in the providence of God.
Chapter 10: The One Things You Must Do
This is the best advice I know: spend time every day in the Word of God and prayer. I'm not telling you how much time to spend. You may start with five minutes or fifteen of fifty. A few unhurried minutes are better than a distracted hour, and a consistent habit is better than a sporadic burst of fits and starts.
As someone who has had a devotional time since secondary school - and has also struggled to have a devotional time since secondary school - I can tell you that no single practice brings more peace and discipline to life than sitting at the feet of Jesus.