'Tis The Season

I get the impression that most people are extremely busy during the month of December. I have been no exception. As an audio producer, I find myself working some strange hours... nearly every day is filled with some sort of work... whether I'm working at the tv station, running sound for church services, weddings, or concerts, mixing recorded live events, composing custom music, writing invoices, making phone calls, sending emails.

My sister is flying in from Germany December 20th, and will be in Columbus for a couple weeks... my brother and his family will be visiting during the holidays... it will be a busy time. So... I'm trying to get all my work caught up so I can focus on people more during the holidays... and hopefully beyond. The challenging thing is, as a freelancer and small business owner, it always feels like turning down a job means a lost opportunity that could lead to another opportunity and then to another opportunity... life is this constant struggle of balance... and this weighing of priorities and motives. Good thing, as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to keep us in check. I've been around workaholics and don't I want to be one. So at what point does one become a workaholic? I know some people who are up pretty late hanging out with people every night of the week. I'm not sure if that's healthy either. Probably depends on the person to some degree.

Maybe we should look at Jesus' life to figure out how to prioritize our time and resources. From first observation, I can see that Jesus lived an extremely disciplined life. He was up early spending time with His father in solitude... He disciplined Himself to fast for 40 days in the desert... He made it a point to pour into the lives of His disciples and followers. Jesus didn't have the distraction of instant messaging and cell phones and television. So anyways, this is something I've been thinking through. Where do I invest my time and how should I spend my resources? Is it better to spend a night alone praying and walking in the park and talking to God instead of going to church in antisipation of meeting the new girl who may become your future wife (what I meant was learning more about God)? As the bracelet says... what would Jesus do? Tonight is one of those evenings of question. I've got so many jobs backing up right now, and I'm afraid I'm going to have some disappointed clients if I don't get moving on some of this stuff. I also feel like I'm missing social opportunites. Sometimes, we put extra work into this or that with the expectation that our extra time investments in this or that will give us more time with people we love later, or will make it easier for us later, or... you fill in the blank. The hamster wheel must be a rippling excuse.

I am working on a new singlehood blog, so stay tuned. I could use your prayers that God would give me wisdom as I work through some of these issues of balance, addressed above.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5