I just passed a billboard with information on how using my phone with the appropriate app, I can order, pay, and pick up food. While for some, this may seem like a splendid idea, I wonder, how much more can a person cram into a day?  With all the “efficiency” in our modern society, why are we more stressed out, suffer with anxiety, and depressed than ever?

“Back in the day,” as some would begin, things looked much different.  Men would go work, mostly on the farms or run local mercantile businesses, while women tended to the family and household. I can only imagine it was hard work, but with a slower pace.  People relied on neighbors and community, and by in large, supported one another. Mothers were mothers to every child and it was a village that raised the child. Think of a time when there were no automatic dishwashers, microwaves, grocery stores that provided food from all over the world, automobiles, cell phones, televisions, etc. My guess is that it was a quieter time to live as well.  No one has termed “air pollution” or “noise pollution” yet. 

Fast forward a century later with all the amazing advances in front of us. Food will arrive at our doorstep, groceries will appear in the trunk of our vehicles, lunch will be handed to us through a serving window, and now we can order, pay and pick up in with the use of our mobile device. There is soccer practice, karate, piano lessons, after school activities, work, projects, household chores, meal preparations, grocery shopping, home and auto maintenances, travel….  You get the idea. It seems the more conveniences there are, the more “things” we stuff into the day. When will we ever “do” enough?

I’m guilty of the to do list. It’s been a way for me to organize my mind and keep me on track, however, there have been many days that I really pushed myself too hard to get it completed. For what reason? The only answer I can come up with is to satisfy my ego. I remember almost bragging about how much I accomplished in a single day. If I didn’t get my list accomplished, my ego would tell me I had failed and will need to try harder the next day. As I think back on it, I’m certain my body was stressed and exhausted. The cost of completing the list really wasn’t worth it.   

Our society has moved away from living to doing. Take a moment and read that again.  When I was a child, Saturdays were used to take the occasional road trip to visit family or friends. Sunday was spent at church then home to rest in the afternoon. I remember people having small homes and large yards to sit outside under the shade trees and the children ran around in the yard. There were conversations about life between the adults. Now people seem to have large houses with small yards. Rarely are people outside to talk to a neighbor or take the time to just sit and be. Rather, working long hours, stopping for an errand on the way home, taking the children to their activities while cramming in some nutrients along the way has become the way of “doing” things. In the end, it gives our society and ego what it wants….busyness.  

I’m often drawn to the story of Martha and Mary. In Luke 10, Martha is busy with household preparations while her sister Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him.  Martha becomes annoyed with Mary and asks Jesus to tell her to help. The Lord replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

This season, as we prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth, why not let some of those list items fall away? What can you put off or even delete from your list? Take the time to breathe in the season and live this beautiful gift of life. The past is history, the future is a mystery and today is a gift, so enjoy your present.

Health Bite: Stop DOING and start LIVING