Rushing All The Time

"Auughhh!"

I heard an aggravated sigh from the back corner.

"Everywhere I go, it just feels like I'm rushing all the time."

J. threw up his hands. The substitute had just ordered us out to make a quiet space for

remaining test takers. Hurry, please. With J. still grumbling, we filed out to the computer lab

down the hall.
　
　
I knew, that J. was used to haulin' it with everything in him at track meets on any given

Thursday. But I doubt that was the kind of rush really bothering him. Don't all of us feel this

way sometimes?
　

All Juniors were required to take the ACT test last week. One section said,

　

35 MINUTES TO ANSWER 40 QUESTIONS

　
Did you think along with me that it was less time than you needed? That was the point. All

teenagers can find over 40 things to fill time. Positive things. Responsible things. Good

looking things for the résumé: extracurricular activities, homework, clubs, sports and

possibly a job.
　

Not so good things: Procrastinating. Hours of pointless distractions. Nights, sleepless

at 2 AM, homework due, watching a clip of a sloth crawling s l o w l y across a busy

road in Brazil.
　

The weekend arrives and the ugly fact is, I feel both lazy AND stressed, somehow. I seemed

to do EVerything. But I did neither what I actually wanted OR what I should have. I neither

answered 40 questions OR gained any points from the ones chose.
　

This is what the rush is like. Busy, yet not accomplished. When do you have time for the big

questions?
　

Why am I doing all this? (Is it worth it?)
　
What am I ultimately gonna do with my life?
　
What kind of person do I want to become?
　
Could it be some of the things,

I stress about

are kind of ridiculous,

in light of what's

important?　


The average life span is around 37 Million Minutes. That's roughly 70 years. Suppose we

were given a test with plenty of questions, but only a few that really counted. And 37 Million

minutes to answer them. The key to unlocking the smaller questions (what should I wear

today?) would be to go for the big questions (how do I want others to see me?).
　

Surely, we'd spend more time on the bigger ones and less worrying about the smaller

ones, right? But we're taught more on how to succeed on the little questions. School can be

like that.
　 
　
I've had Days laying in bed,                                               up at the ceiling.
                                                                staring

knowing I should probably do something. Anything. But I

was tired from 

restlessness

So I rested some more. In my head I

Rest less.

I just
                                          laid
                                                                     there.
　
All day.


I couldn't rest from what Tim Keller calls, "The work underneath all the work."
　
Having to prove yourself. To yourself. And others. Over and over. This is the work that

really tires. Trying to live up to our standards. And comparing ourselves to each other.
　

How is it possible to keep from feeling this way? How do I keep from either saying yes

to things that only make me appear responsible or staring into space, so I can live in

a way that's Rick Warren-y?
　

Purpose Driven. And Meaningful.
　

I think J. has a point. Surely we were meant to be other things besides rushed or

distracted. Surely we were meant to pause. And reflect.


Deeply.

So we know why we feel the need to be busy and distracted. Or procrastinate.
　

As I look for God's answers,

What if I could

create a space

in this blog

against the culture

of distractions

ofneveranytime

to reflect

and really, deeply consider

the Truth

I claim my life is based on?