Week Forty - Naptime

My life seems to go in cycles. At times, it is very quiet. I get lonely and wonder if I am producing anything of value. At other times, I can barely keep up. I grow weary and wonder if I am producing anything of value. These times of busyness require me to set aside time for rest. Without it, I collapse emotionally and spiritually, and my body revolts!

I don't know who wrote this, but I read, "Jesus was never too busy to take a nap." I like that! I can power nap and keep going. So did He!

But the writer didn't stop with napping. He said, "Jesus was never too busy to come aside to pray, to have a meal and cook for the disciples, and to have time for one-to-one meetings." I wished he'd stopped at napping!

How often do we find ourselves saying we are too busy to pray? We rush through our devotions, tick off our prayer list, and hurry into what we have prioritized for the day. That is not our Lord's example. He lingered in prayer, even praying all night through. Prayer was His time with His Father; it was His source of strength and time of reflection. It's where He got His marching orders.

And do we make excuses, saying we are too busy to serve others? Is an unexpected guest met with frustration? Is cooking for the family an annoyance, cutting into something you prioritize over them?

And when a needy friend calls, does your face grimace while on the phone? Are you half-listening while you do other things you consider more important? If they show up at your door, do you take time to sit and listen? If they ask you to meet for coffee, do you go with a time limit in mind? Are you too busy to give your time?

Jesus was never too busy. Yet, He was very busy, so busy that the Bible says they had no time to eat, but that didn't stop Him from giving a measure of time to those in need. His business was others - not Himself. That is the difference.

When I am too busy, I become so self-focused and task-oriented that I am tempted to dismiss the needs of those around me, as I become overly focused on my goals and to-do list. And if I am interrupted, I become annoyed. Jesus was never annoyed when people called to Him. 

Perhaps naptime was how He maintained His focus. Maybe naptime is a biblical remedy for busyness! Are you too busy to take a nap? Then you're too busy!