Too busy for 2HC?

It is common for growing leadership responsibility to carry an increasingly busy schedule in tow. Many leaders, therefore, though eager to participate in activities and practices aimed at nurturing their inner lives, often feel too busy to do so. But there will inevitably come a day when continual output in ministry and mission, when not matched by ample restorative input, will lead to an empty spiritual fuel tank.

On this score, I once heard my friend Dan, a fellow launch team member of 2HC, respond to a leader whose already chock-full schedule made him hesitant to say yes to a particular contemplative opportunity.

The leader said, “I think I’m just too busy to be involved.”

Dan replied, “The way I see it, you’re too busy not to.”

These wise words inspired the following poem/journal entry I made while on a recent spiritual retreat.

Too Busy

I’m too busy. 

Too busy to not set aside one day per month for a personal retreat.
Too busy to not be re-calibrated by watching unspeakably wise trees sway in the gentle summer breeze.
Too busy to not behold water and stones so joyously fulfill their ancient pledge to gravity. 

Too busy to not spend hours in reflection.
Too busy to not pay close attention to my inner life.
Too busy to not slow down until I spot God hiding in every moment of mundanity.

Perhaps a day will come when I won’t be so busy and these things will become optional.
But for the time being, I have no choice.

I’m simply too busy
Not to reflect
Not to retreat
Not to slow down.

What are you too busy to not do in this season of your life? Might participation in 2HC be one such thing?