Busyness misses out

An ethics professor at Princeton Seminary asked for volunteers for an extra assignment. About half the class met him at the library to receive their assignments. The professor divided the students into three groups of five each. He gave the first group envelopes telling them to proceed immediately across campus to Stewart Hall. He told them that they had 15 minutes and if they didn't arrive on time, it would affect their grade. A minute or two later, he handed out envelopes to five others. They were also to go over to Stewart Hall, but they had 45 minutes. The third group had three hours to get to Stewart Hall. The students weren't aware of it, but the professor had arranged for three drama students to meet them along the way. Close to the beginning of their walk, one of the drama students had his hands on his head and was moaning aloud as if in great pain. About half way to Stewart Hall, on the steps of the chapel, the seminary students passed a man who was lying face down as if unconscious. Finally, on the steps of Stewart Hall, the third drama student was acting out a seizure. In the first group of students, those who had only 15 minutes to get across campus, no one stopped to help. In the second group, two students stopped to help. In the last group, the one that had three hours for their assignment, all of the students stopped to help at least one person. The professor had clearly shown these seminarians that hurry hinders ministry.
The disciples have been out on their own preaching, driving out demons, and anointing and healing the sick. When they return they gather around Jesus and report in. They had done good work and they must have been excited about the new authority they held in the name of Jesus. Jesus must have been excited to see his apostles too; he wanted to hear about their experiences, so he invites them to come aside.In Mark 6:31 JEsus said, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while."
This actually happened just before the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus saw all that the disciples had done and accomplished and wanted to share with Him. But, He also saw the importance of slowing down. He wanted them to slow down for 2 reasons.
FIrst, He wanted them to slow down so that they can prepare their hearts for more work by focusing on God again, and not on their accomplishments.
Secondly, He wanted them to slow down because when busy we miss out on a lot of sharing opportunities. Think of the number of conversations you cut short because of needing to get somewhere. The places that you rush in and out of to get a bite to eat when the place is full of people to share with. We do it at church too, we have so much to do so we rush around doing it forgetting that we're supposed to share that time with others.
So slow down, don't get rushed because you will rate the things that happen by importance. When you are running late or rushing somewhere all things seem less important. When I am driving to work in teh afternoon stopping to talk to a neighbor in their yard is always important, but if I am in a hurry it gets forced into a wave goodbye. Which is going to impact their lives more, a hurried wave and the feeling of not being as important as where ever I am headed. Or stopping, putting the window down or getting out and talking for a few minutes. We show people that they are important to us when we slow down and give them our time. Making them feel like there is nowhere else for us to be during that 3-5 minutes of interaction.
Thanks for reading and have a great day.