I’m stressed. Totally stressed. I look at the list of things to do, and it feels like just as I’m about to get started on one thing, five more things pile on. I have a laundry list of things to complain about, piles of things to grade, events to plan, plays to practice, people to talk to, senior class trip to prepare, graduation to get the kids ready for, practices and meetings and parent teacher conferences and church events and school events and personal events and it goes on and on.
Every day sometimes feels like the previous one, the hours whirl by when you need them to be slow, and they crawl when you wish they would go quickly. Sometimes its overwhelming.
Being a high school teacher definitely has its challenges. I feel like sometimes I’m on a merry-go-round. Everything is spinning faster and faster, the song is resounding in my head, the SAME EXACT SONG EVERY TIME, the horses are the same, the paint is wearing thin, the horse I’m on isn’t the most comfortable horse, and the kids that get on the merry-go-round, spin for about four years, and then are replaced with different kids who have different faces, but have very similar personalities and struggles, and the ride goes on and on and on.
I like to think I’m doing good things, however if I had a dime for every time my name is called in a given a day, I’d be a millionaire. I’d like to think my life is filled with GOOD things. I do nice things for kids, I smile at them, I make them laugh, I lead them to God, I teach them about the Bible, I do spiritual plays with them, I have chapels with them, we have spiritually enriching events, and the list goes on.
However none of this matters if I’m not spending time with the source.
If I look at Jesus and His earthly life, I feel a little bit foolish complaining about all the things I have to do in a given day. First of all, Jesus didn’t have any of the modern comfort and amenities that make things easier that I take for granted every day. Let’s just pause a moment for the brilliance of air conditioning in TX.
Secondly, Jesus had the weight of eternity of his back, along with 12 unruly disciples who were pining to be his right hand, hoards of people demanding his time, sickly disgusting folk to heal, problems to listen to, children to play with, the elderly to care for, he had to watch his back from the people trying to destroy him, and no time in a 24-hour given period to accomplish any of it.
So what did Jesus do?
He left.
He went away every time he had a chance to, and spent quality quiet time with His father. He gave no excuses to anyone. He made no apologizes for doing it, He understood that without his connection to the Source, he wouldn’t be able to make it.
So why do I, in my imperfections and debilitating inadequacies think that I can make it on my own?
Some people never learn, some people being me.
So, it’s nice on this Easter weekend, to pause for a moment, in my stresses and delusion, to think about Jesus and the perfect example He gives me every second of every day.
So if you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, stop. Take a breath. Do what Jesus did, and leave. Go away. Separate yourself from everyone. Spend some time with God.
He’s waiting to hear from you, after all.
Devin Anavitarte is one of the founders of Enspire Productions. He is currently a teacher at Burton Adventist Academy.