Wisdom Wednesday: Busyness

Help from Kierkegaard and the Book of Common Prayer

Of all ridiculous things the most ridiculous seems to me, to be busy — to be a man who is brisk about his food and his work.

Soren Kierkegaard, Either/Or

For many of us it seems impossible to avoid busyness, but if we look closer at what Kierkegaard is pointing to here, there is deep wisdom that we need. In one sense, most of us are probably busy - we have many obligations related to things like work, friendship, or family, and our days are pretty full. It is wise and good to do what we can to limit this kind of busyness, to place healthy boundaries in our lives so that we are not in a perpetual state of being stretched too thin.

But Kierkegaard is pointing us to something else, to an internal condition that leads to us being “brisk” about thinks like eating and working. His point reminds me of a time when Dallas Willard answered the question “How would you describe Jesus in one word?” His answer? “Relaxed.” I like that, and after thinking about the picture of Jesus in the New Testament, I think it is true.

There are times where I am internally brisk, or frantic, or rushed, and that’s not a healthy place to be. In recent years, I’ve been learning that even when I have a lot to do, I can do it with a state of relative inner stillness and peace. Sometimes all it takes is being aware of when my inner state is like this, then taking a moment or two to meditate or pray. This helps me return to an inner calmness that comes from resting in God. I think this is also a fruit of a more consistent practice of solitude and silence.

We can cultivate an inner peace, a calmness that comes from resting in and depending on God. We can experience the words of the psalmist: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). A good first step might be praying this, from the Book of Common Prayer:

Oh God of peace,

who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved,

in quietness and trust shall be our strength,

By the power of your Holy Spirit quiet our hearts we pray,

that we may be still and know that you are God,

through Jesus Chris our Lord.

Amen.

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Wisdom Wednesdays include short quotes from wise thinkers, past and present, with a very brief reflection. They provide the wisdom, I provide the reflection. I do this at least a couple of times a month. Hopefully you’ll find it helpful!