I remembered the first time I visited the USA. It was
a great experience. I saw it from the airport and I went outside for a few
hours. I was traveling to the Middle East; to be specific; I was going for a
mission trip in Turkey. And I had to
wait for more than eight hours in the airport of Atlanta. I was amazed about
technology, modernism, food and especially about the pace of the people. Everybody was minding in their own business,
but there was a lot of movement at the same time. Well, maybe not for the
people that was waiting to get inside the airplane. The pace of everyone was
harder than Guatemala. People just spend a lot of hours in activities. Not only
in work. A friend from Canada told me it was the same in his country. So, from
that fast pace I learned something good. I learned that busyness can be far
apart from productivity. I just want to start talking about busyness. In the
Dictionary you will find that the definition of busyness: 1. Engaged in
activity, as work; occupied. 2. Sustaining much activity: a busy
morning; a busy street. 3. Meddlesome; prying. 4. Being in use,
as a telephone line. 5. Cluttered with detail to the point of being
distracting: a busy design. So, from this perspective I learned that sometimes we
are involved in a lot of things. Maybe these things are good. But they are just
far away from your personal goal or vision. In other words, they can be a
distraction from your productivity.
A few weeks
ago I was starting to feel tired; with a lot of anxiety and stress. Finally, I
felt I was getting closer to the point of wanting to say: “I just want to quit”. But, instead of slowing down, I just kept
going. With the sensation that I was so busy: “Yes, I’m being so productive”, “We
are doing so many things in the ministry”. To be honest with you I was far away
on being productive. See, I was not praying too much. I was not reading my
Bible so often. I did not have a lot of time with myself or God. I did not have
a lot of time with my family, until the Lord gave me a different situation. A friend of mine asks me to help him. He said:
“Because you are a translator, I need
your help with someone that is going to come from the States. He is going to
talk to a bunch of pastors in Ixcan, Quiche (Quiche is a city state in
Guatemala). And you are the right man for that job. Do not be concern on your expenses.
I will cover all your expenses”. Honestly, after he invited me to come I
just wanted to say NO. But something inside of me said YES. So, I thought about
it and I meditated on that. Then, I figured out, someone can replace me in the
schools and other activities. So, I went. The traveling was not so bad. When,
we arrived I was surprised. The pace of that village was so slow. The people
were very polite and warm. I had to sleep in a tent. The bathroom was rough. Maybe
in another time I can show you some pictures of the bathrooms. But, you know
what, it was the medicine I need it for my soul.
See, productivity
means: “is an average measure of the
efficiency of production”. So, I realize that I was busy but not producing too
much. I was lacking of the presence of the Lord in my life. I was talking about
Him, but I was not drinking or feeling up of Him. Also, I learned there are
other things that not necessarily had to do with your goal. So, I am starting
to say NO to some things. And to spend my time in the things that are relevant,
for me, for God, for the ministry and for my family…God bless you all
Luis C.
