Life Moves Fast So Know What Matters!

Life Moves Fast So Know What Matters!
by
May 01, 2024

I want to THANK EVERYBODY who has made a commitment to support Woodmont for another year. We have had a strong response through Commitment Sunday! It is still not too late to be a part of this campaign “Loving God, Loving Nashville.”  You can still click here to make your commitment online. Every commitment makes a difference and helps us set a responsible budget. We want as many to participate as possible.

We are looking forward to our youth leading worship this Sunday, May 5, and to some of our graduating seniors sharing the messages. We are very proud of our young people and we should all pray for our seniors as they prepare for a major life transition. It has been a joy to watch them grow up in this church and we wish them all the best as they move on to college and whatever life has in store. Life is an ongoing series of decisions about what is most important, and what is not as important. Sometimes we get it right, and sometimes we don’t. Many people say that they have certain values in life, but many of the decisions that they make simply do not align with those values. Let’s get specific:

• Some say that their marriage is important, but they don’t carve out intentional time to be with their spouse & get away from the kids.
• Some say their children are important, but they often work late and miss many of the games and plays and then wonder how they
grew up so fast.
• Some say that their physical health is important, but they don’t eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, or work out.
• Some say that their friendships are important, but they rarely reach out to check in and see how their friends are doing.
• Some say that their mental and emotional health is important, but they don’t go to counseling, get a spiritual director, or take time
to renew, rest, and refresh.
• Some say their faith is important, but they don’t pray, read scripture, serve others, join a small group, or come to church & support it.

The hardest person to lead will always be yourself. We constantly get in our own way. Eugene Peterson articulates it this way in his memoir: “The cultural conditions in which I am immersed require a kind of fierce vigilance to guard my vocation from these cultural pollutants so dangerously toxic to persons who want to follow Jesus in the way that he is Jesus. I wanted my life, both my personal and working life, to be shaped by God and the scripture and prayer.” Many in our culture will say they want to grow spiritually, emotionally (EQ), and in their faith, but if their weekly or daily schedule is closely analyzed, no time is reserved for this to happen. One activity leads to another and then to another. Busyness and overcommitment have somehow become a badge of honor. Some have a hard time saying “no” because they are people pleasers. American culture is busy, but what are we really busy doing? What quality of life do we really have?

Leadership expert Ron Heifetz talks about the importance of sanctuary, which he describes as “the mental or physical haven to which one can intentionally retreat to create space for reflection and renewal.” Sanctuary allows us to take a step back from our specific context to do self-care and to assess our own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state. Unfortunately, many in our culture do not have a place or method of finding sanctuary. Alcohol, drugs, shopping, and social media substitute as familiar methods of coping with the stress of a busy life. This is not the same as taking intentional time to grow and mature. Time must be set aside for prayer, stillness, study, reflection, and rest. Self-care must be a priority if we are to do anything well. Without self-care, we will become exhausted and everything will feel out of balance.

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