God Matters Most

Susan* was an adrenaline junkie —not the kind that led to a compulsion to skydive, rock climb, or swim with sharks. It was the kind of adrenaline rush that resulted in Susan constant rushing around to ensure perfection and the timely completion of mammoth tasks. Today Susan lies in a hospital bed, where the pain shooting through her lower abdomen causes her to writhe in agony.

Medical professionals can do nothing for her at this point, except wait for the pain medication to kick in. Susan’s hectic schedule has taken a toll on her. She is burned out, to say the least, and now suffers the consequences of her choices. The abdominal pains are symptoms of gastroenteritis due to a weakened immune system. She has also been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Through her pain, Susan’s mind wanders to the many days, stretching into months, when she would work off nothing but adrenaline. Her day typically started at five o’clock in the morning with family worship, after which she would make breakfast, pack the kids’ lunch, get them ready for school, get dressed, and be out the door without anything to eat. Susan’s hectic work schedule would further compound the problem as lunch breaks were typically taken at the end of her workday. By the time she got home, it was time to switch gears.

Barely running on empty, Susan would take on the task of helping her kids with their homework and fixing dinner. Susan’s story isn’t unusual.

Many of us experience this hectic, harmful lifestyle.

We must stop before it stops us. Let us be more like Mary, who sat at the feet of Jesus, feasting on His every word. Let us not busy ourselves into ill health.

And certainly, life should never get so busy that we do not have time to develop a personal relationship with God. After all, He matters most.

Jodian Scott-Banton