God-Life-Work Balance?

“In all my years of counseling those near death, I’ve yet to hear anyone say they wish they had spent more time at the office.” ~Rabbi Kuschner

“What are you thinking about?” my husband Ryan said to me as we sat in the restaurant on our Sunday afternoon.

“The pile of laundry I need to iron,” I responded with embarrassment. A shake of his head was all that followed. We jumped into another conversation for a few minutes, followed by an ever-so-slight shift of my eyes toward the leaves outside the window.

“Now what are you thinking about?” Ryan said, this time displaying an ounce of frustration.

“Squeezing in some work later,” I again admitted with an innocent smile, hoping it would get me off the hook. This time, instead of disappointment, I received a surprising response.

“Man, that must be exhausting,” he responded. I laughed so hard I nearly shook the table. I was laughing for a myriad of reasons; but mostly, I was laughing out of embarrassment. He was 100% right, and why would any sane individual put themselves through constant task-planning? About ten minutes later, I slyly spouted out my own question, thinking I could somehow beat him at his own game (or at least somewhat even the score), “What are you thinking right now, huh mister?”

“I’m thinking about this burger … and it’s fantastic.” Again, nothing but barreled laughter erupted from my chest. Ryan inspired me … inspired me to think a little bit differently.

* * *

I used to think that the opportunity to “just be” was something that existed only on vacation. Ryan was proving me wrong. It can exist whenever and wherever I chose. I now understood that. But how, exactly?

If I’m being completely honest, a part of me actually enjoys the craziness, the planning, and the feeling of constant progress. I like to feel further along in my race then yesterday, while obtaining a more vivid picture of the pavement that lies ahead. Is that so wrong? Maybe not.

True to God’s clockwork, I received an e-mail from a friend in the midst of this tennis match concept I had bouncing around in my mind. One line in particular jumped out at me: “Life is hectic and I like it that way.” Yes! Validation! Suddenly I didn’t feel so crazy for continuously wanting to compose and attack my to-do list. (After all, “to-dos” aren’t always just mundane tasks – they can be enjoying coffee with a friend, a long-awaited phone call to a family member, or spending much-needed quality time with God.) One thing was clear, however: while I don’t mind the planning and progress, I love and need my down time … time to read, time to paint, and time to think about absolutely nothing but the delicious burger sitting in front of me, if that is what I so chose.

But how do we really find balance? Where do we draw the line? Work-life balance is always such a hot-topic – but is it really attainable? What about God? Has this become work-life-God balance, or can God permeate through our entire day? He should, that’s for certain. Who else provides us with the ability and strength to endure those days filled with constant ebb and flow?

With the hope of sharing a CliffsNotes version of how I’ve gained some control over the chaos (making the line between work and life more distinct, and yet, the line between work/life and God more dull), I’ve done my best to sum up a few tips (in no particular order):

Start and end your day with Him, even if it’s just pondering one Bible verse or engaging in a short prayer.
Plan your day in advance. Review your to-do list either in the morning or at the end of your day. This allows a set-time for planning your daily priorities.
Keep your to-do list with you. Jot down an item whenever needed, providing relief that it won’t be forgotten. However, leave the newly added task on that paper! It shouldn’t enter your mind until scheduled work-time arrives. Resist the temptation.
Do not make your daily to-do list endless. Limit yourself to three-five things. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for exhaustion and failure.
If something significant crosses your path during your day, instead of picking up the phone to call a friend/sibling/parent, confide in Him before the thought leaves your mind. You can always make that phone call afterward.
Lastly, pray about it. Pray that a balance can and will exist in your life. Pray that you will be able to control it. That’s your strongest mode of attack by far.

Challenge yourself: Infuse at least two of these tips into your next hectic day. Afterwards, reflect on whether or not they improved the flow and satisfaction of your day. If not, what can you change to make them better suit you?

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

Twitter: @AliciaMSmith7

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