Breathe. Our Lives Are But a Breath.

Man, was I ever lazy today. Dave and I were supposed to go to Asheville today for an overnight getaway for his birthday, but, for whatever reason, God wanted us to stay home.  Threats of snow and ice started out the day yesterday. Then, my daughter started running a fever. A few hours later, my friend who was going to keep my kids called to let me know that her daughter was running a fever. One obstacle after another was seemingly thrown into our path. Alas, the coveted date night solitude eludes us for two more weeks. I guess I had already made up my mind that today would entail no work, because that is exactly what I did not do. Work, that is. I veged out on the couch and spent some quality time with my sick girl while my little man worked from home with his daddy. 


Rest. Ahhhhh. A day to relax and reflect on life. We all need it, yet we rarely ever get good, quality down time. Day after day, we zip around checking off our to do lists to get the day done. Then, on our days off, we are anxious to fill all our time with outings (I'm raising my hand as guilty right here). Even when we do stay home, how often do we just relax and spend time with family or God without distractions all day long like TV or Internet? And no, I'm not suggesting we should just sit around and just look at each other all day, either. 


Nothing is inherently wrong with any of the activities mentioned above. This is just something I have been convicted about for a long time, and yet I have done virtually nothing about it. It is too easy to get distracted from what life is really all about. One area I have struggled with for awhile now is Facebook taking up way too much of my time. I am watching and taking care of my kids, all the while compulsively and mindlessly checking Facebook on my phone anytime I sit down for a moment. I love my kids with all my heart. I love to play with them, take care of them, and love on them. But, if I am constantly looking at what all these other people are doing on my phone all the time, who or what am I really putting first? I feel like I've been punched in the stomach when I think about this. Colossians 3:23 says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord..." Am I really giving anything my whole heart when I am distracted? So, as of tonight, I am burying my Facebook App deep in the recesses of preschool games  in my phone. It will have to be a mindful effort to check it. I will strive to only check it when my kids are asleep (and not while rocking them, mind you, because that is irreplaceable, special time), and after I have spent daily quiet time with God. I tell you this so I can feel accountable. You really won't know, but I can't stand the thought of all of you calling me a liar in my head (grins sheepishly).


 Like I said, there is nothing wrong with Facebook. I obviously LOVE Facebook, and the meaningful friendships it has brought into my life. I also absolutely love the extra connection it gives me to my family that I miss so much.  

ANYWAY, we almost never are just still, thinking of the brevity of our lives and what means the most. I read some verses the other night and I haven't been able to get them out of my head.

Psalm 39:4-6 reads,


⁴ “Show me, LORD, my life’s end 
   and the number of my days;
   let me know how fleeting my life is. ⁵ You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
   the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
   even those who seem secure.
 ⁶ “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
   in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
   without knowing whose it will finally be." (NIV)


Kind of depressing, right? But if we don't really dig in and ponder this, we are in danger of zooming around like "mere phantoms" just doing all our stuff, whether important or totally insignificant, and really missing the point of it all. I hate to say it, but we are all going to be in the ground before we know what hit us. What is really going to matter then? If you are an atheist, you say, "nothing". I say, PLEASE just know you are sure. Those of us who claim to be believers in Jesus, we need to take time to "be still" and contemplate our relationship  with the One who made us and WILL be exalted above the nations (paraphrased Psalm 46:10).


2 Corinthians 13:5 says,


 "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (ESV)


I don't know about you, but I don't want to fail the test because I couldn't get off of Facebook (or insert your personal vice here) long enough to spend quality time with God examining myself according to His Word. I don't want to forfeit valuable time cultivating relationships with my family, either.  


Our lives are but a breath. Let us all be careful not to forget to take moments everyday to clear the haze of busyness and examine our lives, making sure that we are making the most of the time we are given.