The human race defeats too many of us. Doubled up schedules and lengthening task lists rule us. Hustle us through the hours like objects on a conveyer belt. Stepping off to pause for inner refreshment seems a luxury too dear to afford.
"My cup runs over," the Psalmist wrote, in the beloved 23rd Psalm. Most of ours do too, but not the way King David meant. Some of us go so hard and fast that we may have, once or twice, waited too long before visiting the loo. Then it's not only one's cup that runs over.
A friend, in her late fifties, has begun a business. She works like a machine with no off switch. Another friend maintains two households - she has temporarily left family in one province to spend several months in a different one, caring for other family members. Yet another owns a popular food franchise. She works more than full-time. When she gets a rare day off, she's too depleted to enjoy it. "It's not what I thought it would be," she says.
Another friend is so busy that between caring for several grandchildren and holding down a full-time job, she arrived at work last week only partially dressed. And most young families I know maintain a pace of life that would dizzy me in a day.
We're harried, haggard, and harrumphing - in spite of multitudes of tools, machines and conveniences designed to streamline schedules and bring more leisure time.
Count them: dishwashers, laundry machines and central vacs. Fast food and slow cookers. We don't need to sew our own clothing, grow our own gardens or bake our own bread. We're surrounded by big box stores and inundated with small apps that do big things. We have movies on demand and newspapers on our screens. We have GPSs to connect us to our locations, and Facebook to connect us to our friends.
Comfortable living has never been more accessible to North Americans. Yet, our relationships - and our jeans - are busting at the seams. Along with gobbling our peace, stress adds fat to our middles.
Going to church, for those who still squeeze that in, seldom helps. God is not a gas pump, idly waiting for us until, spiritually dry or running on fumes, we coast in, sidle up, fill up (or try to) and leave again an hour later, still empty.
Take a breath. Listen to the words of Jesus Christ. He knows us best and loves us most.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11: 28-29, The Message)
That's how to win the human race.
