Excerpts from Andi Ashworth's book Real Love for Real Life: The Art and Work of Caring, (italics my own):

     We also normalize frantic lifestyles when we don't need to. Whether we take a job that requires a long commute, sign our children up for too many extracurricular activities, or take on more projects and commitments than we can handle, our decisions have long-range consequences that we need to consider. Even when we are the ones who made the series of choices that got us into our schedule crunch, we often feel that our schedule controls us. We yield to the pattern of continual intensity without offering any resistance. We have a growing realization that overcommitment and overwork are destructive, but in general, we don't seem to change.
     And as we give in to the standards society sets for us, we gradually internalize what our culture values: efficiency, speed, control, and quantity over quality. In this paradigm, caregiving seems very much out of place. Caring does not "maximize" our time. Its richest rewards are not tangible. It's results are not quantitative. Caregiving needs are unpredictable, and sometimes meeting them is a slow process.
And this one:
     When we live in light of the gospel, we view time and people from the perspective of eternity. Even the small things we do to show people they matter can make a difference. We make our offerings, not knowing if our efforts will even be noticed, but knowing that each person matters supremely to God, and he notices. We live by faith, not by sight, entrusting the outcomes to God and knowing that we're participating in his work of caring for the people he loves.
And this one:
     Busyness sends out a message to people that you don't have the time for them. The state of being frantic, overextended, and distracted drives people away rather than drawing them in and inviting them to the refuge of your company. No one is comfortable coming to someone when they feel like an interruption. This fear of interrupting feeds into the isolating trend of our culture where no one wants to be a bother to anyone else.
     In a world that so often values speed, efficiency, and change over continuity and relationship, we are challenged on a daily basis to consider what matters most. God invites us to resist the tangled webs of busyness that imprison us and make it impossible to respond in love to the people around us. If we want our lives to reflect the truth that people matter, we must live intentionally toward that end. If we really believe that people are important and that caring for each other is at the heart of our call to follow Jesus, we must thoughtfully and intentionally offer people something more.

7 comments:

  1. Such a great reminder. Even with just little ones our lives get hectic and over scheduled. Makes me so nervous for when they get older and want to be involved. Can you post this again in a few years? :) I'll need the reminder to be intentional about focusing on the people in my life, and not just their schedules.

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    1. Sarah,
      I'll have to re-post it for myself, too!
      It struck me as I read this that when you look at Jesus' ministry- he wasn't hurried. He made time for people, and took time to invest in people. It's such a good reminder to us, in this age of HURRY and do so much!
      Have a great day with your sweet little ones, Sarah!

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  2. Such good words. It is a battle to not get sucked into the frenzy vortex! You have to plan to not be over scheduled and learn to say NO! I got caught up this last year and won't do it again...hopefully:)
    When people ask me what I am most looking forward to doing this fall. My response....not a whole lot and I am so thankful!

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    1. Hooray for "not a whole lot" :)

      Enjoy, friend!

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  3. Thank you so much for posting these quotes. I've had this book on my wishlist for a couple of years, but I don't think I could see inside it, so I didn't know what it was like. I don't struggle with too many outside activities b/c we only have one car and so I'm home unless I we have an appt. or a specific outing. It means I have to reach out to people in other ways, like bringing baking to neighbors or small things to friends at church who need encouragement. And there's always the internet to keep me connected to those I care about. Sorry to write so much, but thanks for sharing these quotes.

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    1. Heather,
      I don't struggle with too many outside activities, either. (Pretty much NONE.) But I do struggle with thinking I OUGHT to do more- just because so many around me are. I was talking with a friend the other day about how I am involved- just in different ways- like you've said-- bringing baking to neighbors or friends at church, having people over, praying or sending a card. It looks a lot different, but I trust that God is using it just the same.
      Love to you, friend!

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  4. This book has a lot of really good points. It's on my shelf - I should revisit it again.

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