There is an addiction in our culture to being busy, to not overloading our schedules.

Some of this comes from personalities, saying we want our kids to have things we didn’t have, but many of us are afraid to miss out.

We are also afraid of the silence and stillness that comes from unaccounted for moments.

Many of us are too busy, running from work, kids games and practices, church programs, exercise, eating in the car, etc. I will often hear people say, “I’d like to do ______________ (usually something that would enrich their marriage, health or relationship with God) but I just don’t have the time.” The reality is, we don’t have the time because we don’t make the time.

But why are we busy? Many of us are busy, work too much, run from activity to activity because we don’t want to stop. We don’t want to be with our family, spouse, alone with ourselves, with friends, whatever because we don’t want to stop. We are addicted to the adrenaline that comes from being busy.

This is a big one: we also don’t want to slow down because of what we will have to do if we slow down.

It is easier to stay busy at work or run kids to different things than being honest with your spouse, working on issues in your heart or dealing with past hurts. Many people overwork because of the accolades they get from it. This often stems from an approval idol in their hearts. They didn’t get approval from a coach, parent or teacher at a young age, so they will try to get that approval from someone else now.

We are busy for more power, prestige, control, you name it. Pastors overwork so their church will love them, compliment them, so their church will grow. Mostly Godly reasons, but at the end of the day it is often to feed the idol in their heart.

We also tell ourselves things like, “this is just a season.” But slowly one season becomes another which becomes another.

In the long run, we think we are running after the right life, but we are missing the life right in front of us.