The Merry Go Round

 I loved to play on merry go rounds as a child. Whether I was the one spinning or riding, the faster we went the better. I used to climb on the handles, lock my feet in and lean backward for an extra thrill. If I was pushing, I ran and shoved as fast and as hard as I could. I guess experts deemed them dangerous and banned from most playgrounds. They are hard to find. I feel for kids who never experienced that thrill. 

Life feels like a merry go round much of the time. It keeps spinning faster and faster. I've talked with numerous retired people who say they are busier now than when they worked. The work weeks can be so long and the weekends so short. I can't remember the last time Brenda and I woke up on a Saturday when we had no commitments. Twice in the past week and a half I've gone to bed at 7:30 p.m. from exhaustion. Only trouble is I awoke at 1:30 a.m. The merry go round did not stop for very long. 

Jesus understood busy days. People crowded Him for miracles as He increased in popularity. Wherever He went the crowds followed. He taught and healed people on many occasions late into the night. That is what makes Mark 1:35 so interesting. Jesus chose to get off the merry go round and leave people to spend time alone with His Father. He made that a priority. Nobody did it for Him. He carved out that time to replenish His soul in the Father's presence. Even when He did this, the disciples sought Him saying, "Everyone is looking for You."

I am blessed to have two offices at the church. I have the main pastor office. I set up a make shift office in an unused classroom on the far end of the building where I put the remainder of my books that did not fit in the main office. It is a secluded quiet place to pray, read, and study. I frequent that office I call the "Cave." It has seven bookshelves mostly filled with theology books. I have a little table and chair and a recliner where I can get away. I know if I am to be of any use to the people I have to spend time alone with God. I have to make this a part of my schedule like Jesus made going to a secluded place a part of His. 

We move so fast. There are few times built in for buffering. Silence is pierced with our phones making us available all times both day and night. We are surrounded by noise. Music, notifications, television, conversations, social media, and traffic whirling by. We don't have time to ponder things. In older times people pondered when they rode a horse to town or sat in horse draw wagons. Farmer's had time to mull things over as they plowed and worked the fields. Ranchers thought on trail drives. The pace of life was slower. We have modern conveniences that are supposed to simplify life. I find they only complicate life and add more distractions. 

Each of us could use a little time to seclude ourselves with God for a spell. To soak in silence. To sit in solitude with God without any distractions. To buffer the busyness with a soul talk with the Lord. The quiet and seclusion may feel awkward at first, because our hustle and bustle society does not make time for that. It will do your soul a world of good. If Jesus stepped off the merry go round, maybe it would be wise on our parts to do the same.