The Cost of Busyness
A short piece from The Inner Life by Thomas aKempis a 15th century monk. He also wrote the well known devotional work The Imitation of Christ.
Whenever a man desires anything inordinately, at once he becomes restless. A proud and avaricious man is never at rest; but a poor and humble man enjoys the riches of peace. A man who is not yet perfectly dead to self is easily tempted, and is overcome even in small and trifling things. And he who is weak in spirit, and still a prey to the senses and bodily passions, can only with great difficulty free himself from worldly lusts.
Therefore he is sad when he does so withdraw himself, and is quickly angered when anyone opposes him. Yet, if he obtains what he desires, his conscience is at once stricken by remorse, because he has yielded to his passion, which in no way helps him in his search for peace.
True peace of heart can be found only by resisting the passions, not by yielding to them. There is no peace in the heart of a worldly man, who is entirely given to outward affairs; but only in a fervent, spiritual man.
February 12th, 2010 - 18:08
Interesting that you labeled it with “busyness”. The passage brought thoughts of food to mind for me.
February 7th, 2010 - 17:12
Busyness, indeed! there are times when there is no choice but to be busy and solitude has to be found in the hospital waiting room, or a few moments walking between the hospital room and administrators office; maybe at a quick lunch before check-out time when my daughter is still resting. At home I do all the tending to her needs, take her to appointments, tend to household duties because life does not hold for times like these. Oh, did I mention, my husband is severely disabled. The list goes on and on for the homemaker/caregiver…
…but God gives refreshment in the midst of chaotic activity.
I also understand why writers, historians, painters, and the like are either single women or men, both are full time careers. But our LORD is God of the impossible!