08/19/2025
Before I left for work this morning, Laura and I were reviewing our schedules, and she said, “I think my calendar is scheduling me instead of me scheduling my calendar.” I bet you have felt that way at times, too. I sure have.
When our output is more than our inflow, we begin to creep toward the ledge of burnout. When the demands on our time are more than our margins, our anxiety increases. When we prioritize production over connection, our soul begins to shrink.
It’s important for us to remember that production is temporary, but connections are eternal. Success should never be measured by the accumulation of earthly things that validate production over connection. True success is when connection is the end and production the means.
I’ll never forget a picture on the front page of The Times-Picayune, a New Orleans newspaper. It was a photo of the graveside service of Popeye’s founder, Al Copeland. Lined up in front of his grave were several of his high-class cars, boats, and motorcycles. It was meant to be a tribute to his vast wealth in celebration of all he accomplished in this life. However, to me, it only highlighted the reality that production is temporary, but connections are eternal.
Jesus said to Martha, “Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). The phrase “will not be taken away” sounds like Jesus is saying He won’t tell Mary to help in the kitchen. Perhaps, but I believe another way to understand this phrase is that what Mary was doing would never be taken from her because it will last forever. Mary chose what is better, because she chose what is eternal.
Perhaps this is similar to the Apostle Paul’s words to the Colossians: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). This doesn’t mean we are unconcerned about this world. Rather, when our minds are set on eternity, we have the wisdom to live like Christ here on earth. C. S. Lewis once wrote, “If you read history you will find out that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next” (Mere Christianity, 118).
My prayer is that as we reflect on the busyness of our schedules, we will allow the things of heaven to determine how we live on earth. May God’s business direct our busyness, so that connection is the goal that guides whatever we produce in this life.
