In October I was walking around in the back yard gazing up into this large oak tree when I spotted this little fellow so full of activity.  He definitely had places to go and things to do as he makes his way across this massive tree.  It appeared that my tiny traveler was accustomed to this well known route as I watched him traverse the rough landscape.  It was as though he was following some unseen map or making use of some advanced GPS system the way he passed through this organic obstacle course.

        What appeared to me to be mission impossible was just another day at the office to Mr. Ant.  Like some magical acrobat I watched as he walked upside down from atop this towering tree down to my level and below to the ground.  I observed as he defied gravity, performing feats of strength and courage unequaled in the world where humans reign supreme.  He was on a mission and nothing hindered him this day from performing his duty, not even a camera placed against the tree staring up at him.  He simply walked right on past me and this new obstruction I placed in his way, moving ever onward toward his unseen goal.

        My new friend taught me some valuable lessons on this day; the importance of staying focused on your goal.  He demonstrated the significance of not getting sidetracked when an obstacle is suddenly placed in our path.  He was active, busy, laboring constantly onward toward some invisible objective.  I feel a lot like Mr. Ant most days except for the part about being focused on my goals.  Oh, I am busy alright; most days my wheels are spinning furiously onward, I just do not know where they are taking me.  Some days I feel that I have mistaken activity for achievement; somehow I got confused and exchanged my whirlwind of activity for my original goal.

        Much of our activity these days is nothing more than a cheap anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life.  It is not enough to be busy like the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?  Could it be that our purposeless activity may be just a phase of death?  Year by year we are becoming better equipped to accomplish the things we are striving for.  But do we really know what are we actually striving for?  It is possible to be so active in our service that we forget why we are doing it in the first place.  The most serious idleness of all is being busy with things that do not matter.

Something to think about:

• We hurt people by being too busy. Too busy to notice their needs. Too busy to drop that note of comfort or encouragement or assurance of love. Too busy to listen when someone needs to talk. Too busy to care.

• Life without a goal is like entering a jewel mine full of precious jewels and coming out with empty hands.

• Some people are so busy planning for the rainy day that they have no time to enjoy the sunshine.

• If you are too busy to be kind, you are too busy.

• People who don’t know whether they are coming or going are usually in the biggest hurry to get there.

• Some people are so busy learning the tricks of the trade that they never learn the trade.

• Some people think they are busy when they are only confused.

• None so busy as those who do nothing.

Your busy buddy
Rickey Moore