Kindness vs. Busyness

I was driving around Hollywood the other day and noticed how much I missed it. The crazy busy street of Melrose took a chicken leg out of my dinner plate. Then comes this huge 16 wheeler truck doing a full u-turn on a four lane street. It was impeccable. There's so many good stores on that street. I am missing out on some good thrift store shopping. Every side street in Beverly Hills has a meter. It's ridiculous. Thank goodness I still remember some secret spots to park and play. Two hours of walking around, shopping around, and trying to find a restroom was a great task. I bought a bagel from coffee bean. I used their restroom and sat as I watch people walk by for a good half an hour. It was great. I found time to plan the rest of that day. Next was to go to Robertson and go say "hey" to a few stores that I am acquainted with. That was the plan, until traffic hits the city. Oh the craziness...

People were yelling. Drivers were being inconsiderate with other drivers. Cars were bumper to bumper. I realize that the streets were just crowded with busy folks from the delivery guy, to the secretary, to the ceo, to the tourist, to the homeless. Then it hit me. If these people weren't so busy then they won't be rude or selfish. If these people were too kind then things won't go as it flows. The milk won't get there in time for it may stale. The patient may miss that beat and die as they drive by. That hungry person may starve to death. It may go over board and perhaps exaggerated, but it is also somewhat true. Most people would probably be a lot nicer if they weren't so busy. And people who are already very nice aren't probably as busy as any regular "joe" out there.

I look at being busy to be something productive. Busy is good. God calls us to be busy. Didn't He? I mean, if we are his hands and feet then we should be doing something 6 days out of the 7 days of the week and rest on the seventh day. There's plenty of verses in the bible that could be thrown at this topic of being busy. One would be 1 Thessalonians 3:6-15. It talks about the warning against idle. It's written in verse 10 that "a man who does not work, does not eat." Now how much do we need to work to feed ourselves? It seems like people around here like to eat a lot. As long as it's not gluttony then I think that's okay. However, if they start losing their values and morals then perhaps being too busy could have a tragic outcome. It could be so tragic that they'd lose faith in Jesus. Even when people think that they're still fine and dandy after being super busy the unconscious mind often times bring thoughts that could be unkindly. I guess that bring us to being kind.

I look at being kind to be something being generous. Generous is good. There's no random acts of kindness, only intentional acts given the opportunity to happen. Just like being busy. Being kind doesn't come randomly. It comes within the territory. It says in the bible in Colossians 3:12 to cloth ourselves in kindness. Also the 2nd most important commandment says in Matthew 7:12 "Do to others what you want to be done to you.." Kindness could be so important to our lives, but also could affect the way we live our lives. Are we doing kind things for other reasons other than pleasing our Father? There could be that second thought of why we do kind things. I asked myself this question today as I'm driving. "Did I just let that car get in my lane because it was the kind thing to do or is it because she's attractive?" If that was a man acting foolish and wanted to get in my lane, would i have given him room to slip in? Probably not...

Don't we pick out own battles? We're faced with an opportunity to be kind everyday. Also, we're are supposed to be working constantly for the good of this earth and the good of heavens above. It's good to set boundaries, to be able to know when to say "yes" and "no". I struggle with it a lot because I just want what pleases anyone. Well, I know that I can't please everyone. I try. But I also have my own self to please. And with all the pleasing going on, God is (should be) pleased first. There's a great balance between kindness and business. Both are great if both can exist. And I think they can. Being busy is good as long as kindness remains. Being kind is great, especially when done while being busy. This two aspects of life should always co-exist with great equilibrium. The more we get busy the more we forget "what would Jesus do". The more we care more for others, the more we forget that we're also important.

Now here's a curve ball... Can we be busy being kind? Yes, only if we're kind to treat ourselves as well. It says in Ecclesiates 3 that we should enjoy our lives as long as we can. Now even for the hungry, they can enjoy the gift of life. Just thankful for every second that I'm alive. I'm created in His image and if He calls for me to sit by His throne in heaven, then so be it- words of the hungry, and (should be) by everyone. I can be busy doing work and dealing with life. I can also love and be kind to everyone with all my heart and soul. I can't do it all. Agreed. But if I can, I will.