The term “rat race” began in the 1940′s with the invention of modern day conveniences. More opportunities and choices were available to us than ever before and soon some felt like they were endlessly busy but often times with meaningless things.
Wikepedia defines the rat race as a term used for an endless, self-defeating or pointless pursuit. It conjures up the image of the futile efforts of a lab rat trying to escape while running around a maze or in a wheel. In an analogy to the modern city, many rats in a single maze expend a lot of effort running around, but ultimately achieve nothing meaningful either collectively or individually.
Those who first used this term would never be able to imagine the modern day conveniences we experience in 2012! We have more time saving appliances and resources available to us than ever before and yet it seems that our stress levels only continue to rise.
Is it God’s will for God’s people to be trapped in this rat race?
Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but at succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter at all.~Francis Chan
So often we fear failure. We fear that our children won’t make the ball team or get good enough grades. We fear wrinkles, grey hairs or missing out on the latest and greatest new gadget for our kids. But do we ever fear being successful at things that – at the end of the day when we stand before God’s throne – don’t really matter at all?
Today I had big plans for our day – it was supposed to be a family day (daddy was off work) and my daughter got a belly ache right in the middle of the day and messed up all of our fun plans. I was on a mission to make a great day for the kids – but all she really needed was a mama who loved her and cared about her belly. My plans faded into the distance – and I was the one disappointed – cause this mama gets sucked into the rat race sometimes! What mattered to her was not the long list of plans I had but that her mommy would sit quietly on her bed rubbing her hair while she cried. And this forced pause in our day – reminded me of what really matters in life.
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.~Proverbs 14:1
The rat race has the potential to tear a family apart. Many families barely have time to eat dinner together these days, much less read God’s word or pray together. Last night I sat in bed with the kids singing our “God is an Awesome God” and a few other favorites. It’s in these slow moments…moments of song, back rubs, and story time – that I am most fulfilled as a mom. As we write our to-do lists may we remember to include the simple things. Let’s build our houses with wisdom.
Walk with the King,
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