Hustle Bustle Part II: I wanted to write and upload this blog post on Wednesday. I never got to it. My hustle bustle took over and the writing had to wait.

Since writing is still a part-time endeavor, I have to put in my eight-hour day. Then there are errands, dinner and daily chores. The last two days were good hustle bustle kind of days. We finalized plans for the Eldest Prince to go back to college. Woo Hoo! I actually attended a writer critique workshop. I received some good constructive criticism on the first 8 pages of Disrupted.

Every time I sat down to write I was exhausted and wondered where the day went. Again the hustle bustle had carried me away. This morning I woke thinking about messages I received on Sunday.

For years I’ve been called back to the feet Jesus. I sit with Jesus. I listen to God’s messages through His people. I read His scriptures, and I write with the Holy Spirit. What pulls me away from Him?

In Sunday’s Gospel two verses continue to stand out, Luke 21:34-35 [NABRE]. The Holy Spirit is focusing my attention.

“³⁴Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise ³⁵ like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. 

For me the words “like a trap” stand out on the page. I thought what could the trap be? It’s the second coming of Christ. That’s a good thing right my Lord? I got no answer or gentle nudge from the spiritual side as I waited for the Homily.

God was in charge because on Sunday He had me sitting right where I needed to be. I was ready to hear what He had planned for me to hear. During the homily our Priest read these verses to us again. He pointed out the word ‘trap.’ Of course my ears perked up. He continued: God doesn’t lay a trap for us. He doesn’t set traps. It is Satan that sets traps. “So what is the trap?” our Priest challenged us.

He asked us to think about how Satan would catch us unaware. I visualized the scripture describing signs in the sun, moon and stars, the nations in dismay, and the roaring of the sea and the waves. How would I react?

I asked myself, “What would I feel when this happens?” I first thought of how the evil one uses fear, doubt, and unbelief to pull us away. I would want to run and hide. But in this case what would I be hiding from? The second coming of Jesus? I would be hiding from God? That is not what I want to do.

Each of us has a weakness the evil one uses to trap us. I have discovered my biggest weaknesses are fear and distraction. At the Coming of the Son of Man, the evil one will use every trap in his arsenal to turn souls away from Jesus. We have to look at what Satan and his minions could use against us.

Since I don’t do much carousing or drinking, anymore, for me the scripture says “do not become drowsy from the anxieties of daily life.” This is where I may be found lacking on that day. More than anything else in my life it is the ‘hustle and bustle’ that pulls me away from the Lord. I get involved and forget to include the Lord.

The scripture doesn’t say stop living and enjoying our lives. Scripture encourages us to include God in our lives and be aware of His Presence. I do not want to be caught quivering in fear in a hidey hole. Nor do I want to be caught so buried in the anxieties of life that I don’t even notice the Lord coming in His Glory.

I am learning what pulls me away my Lord. The message has been there all along. I’ve suspected it but the teaching did not sink down into my soul. I have ignored the call to sit with Him. Instead I listened to the call of daily life. I listened to anxiety’s screams.

Just as God revealed himself to Elijah² I find, God is not in the great and strong wind (Fear). God is not in the earthquake (anxiety). God is in the still small voice.

Avoid your traps. Find your way to remain aware. I am still working on listening for his voice, praying, and trusting him. God Bless,

Milly

¹Luke 21:26 [NABRE]

²1 Kings 19:11-12 [NKJV]