Healthy and not so healthy distractions

Ok so you think you are busy and overworked.

Currently I am feverishly working on publishing my book. I am designing the cover, getting it copy edited, obtaining quotes from printers, developing a marketing plan, etc. Simultaneously I am building five websites, two for each of my Islamorada vacation rental homes, one for our Honey Lake Resort and Spa operation , a new software company, and an updated site for the book launch which includes order fulfillment and credit card processing. Currently I am building my new two story home, our 15,000 square foot conference center, additional cottages containing 12 bedrooms, a game room pavilion, a spa compound with swimming pool, exercise facility, and salon, a chapel, a smokehouse and wild game processing center, sporting clay and skeet shooting range, a five acre pond, and I’m clearing forest land to add more agricultural land for soybeans.

I have capable helpers, not the least of which is my youngest son who serves as COO for the plantation operation, but still I have lots of decisions to make each day.

Yesterday I got up at 12:30 AM and worked until 6PM and today I came in the office around 3AM and am still not finished with WFTD at 6:00.

I know I’m supposed to be retired. So why do I do it?

I don’t really know. I just like to accomplish and build things, but my wife tells me that just maybe I’m going just a little overboard. (Do you think?)

I retort that there is so much to do and so little time. (I know I know I’m plagiarizing, but that does not diminish the value of the original author of that thought.)

Through it all I try to keep my eye on the Lord and serve Him as my foremost duty. I’m not always successful and today was no exception, especially when I said a few choice words when I discovered a major blunder that occurred, but I’m trying.

I do realize that my days are “surely numbered” and that is one reason that I am in a frenzy to get some stuff done before like a candle in the wind I expire. Brevity of life is in part the reason that I always try to put the Lord first in my life. Another is I do not want to suffer from stirring His wrath against me for not obeying His commands. I will serve Him for eternity. With the exception of my book, this other stuff is not all that important and I won’t be taking it with me.

I read Psalms quite often and I particularly like to read King David’s pleas to the Lord to keep him following the straight and narrow and to help him to avoid distractions that might not be healthy to his relationship with His almighty Father. I like this one.

Psalm 39
I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue
when the ungodly are around me.”
But as I stood there in silence
not even speaking of good things
the turmoil within me grew worse.
The more I thought about it,
the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
Interlude
We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth,
not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me.
I am silent before you; I won’t say a word,
for my punishment is from you.
But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath.
Interlude
Hear my prayer, O LORD!
Listen to my cries for help!
Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest
a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.