Dear one,
Perhaps it’s the near “onslaught” of the season before us: Thanksgiving/ Advent/ Christmas/ New Year’s; or perhaps it’s a phenomenon characteristic of my life, and I find myself reverting to that hackneyed whimper: “Stop the merry-go-round … I want to get off.”
As child of the 1950s and 60s, I recall that my parents’ generation spoke of “keeping up with the Joneses,” which meant: “Do we have the car … or the house … or the vacation destination, indicating the successful fulfilment of important provisions?
At some moment in the past 50 years, however, “keeping up with the Joneses” became: “Are our calendars sufficiently full—with every conceivable opportunity for our children or grandchildren, with every activity, event, or service organization successfully supported?” If not, then in some measure we’re not keeping up; for surely a full calendar indicates a life of importance.
Please do not misunderstand me: I do not intend to disparage the meaning and pleasure attached to cars, homes, and vacations; likewise, I do not mean to deprecate the importance of active involvement in church, community, and/or work-related commitments, but I do mean to raise this question: When is enough enough? That is, upon what basis do we prioritize importance? A full calendar? A palatial home?
Although Covid has been a tyrannizing, uninvited guest, it has provided some moments for reflection: What are we doing and why? What is important and what isn’t?
The other day, as snowflakes were falling, and as I watched our neighbors: wrens, woodpeckers, and cardinals feeding, I was reminded of Jesus’ words: “Consider the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of greater value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
For many of us, our concerns might not be the next meal or adequate clothing and shelter; but we might be anxious or even overwhelmed by all we must do to fulfil the dictates of our calendars. Thus I wonder: the One who provides for the birds, might He not provide you the discernment you need to distinguish between what is and is not important? But of even greater significance, might He not say: “Irrespective your calendar or your possessions, in my eyes you are beyond dear”?
If I rightly understand Jesus' words: you are far more important than "keeping up with," or the supposed significance of a full calendar. In His eyes you are beyond valuation.
Re-evaluating,
Stan
Ps. I am now carefully scrutinizing my calendar …