Why do we let life get in the way?

Humans are generally lazy.  Especially when it comes to other people and relationships.  We settle into our comfort zones, into what is easy, what is routine.  We make excuses about our jobs and our families and there not being enough hours in the day.  So many times we are more concerned about ourselves, what we want and our own feelings that we simply forget about others.  Even the people we truly care about, we just decide we can't worry about their needs or their feelings.  We get into the routine of not having enough time, of staying home wasting hours entertaining ourselves every day, of losing ourselves in day to day life.

I believe that all of these things are a choice.  We can choose to care about others or to be wrapped up in ourselves.  We can choose to give others our time, our true friendship, our love and compassion.  We can choose to be servants of the Lord and live out His commands or we can choose ourselves and what is easier.  We can choose to passively say "please remember I care about you" without showing any evidence of it and believing that that is enough, or we can ACT.

Do we think Jesus ever said to anyone "I'm just too tired.  Life is too hard and I work too much.  I simply don't have time for you."  Or "you know I have those 12 disciples who are like my family?  Well they just take up so much of my time.  I mean we have to do this and this and then this is going on.  I really want to do blank but I just don't see how I can make the time." 

Don't get me wrong family is important.  Raising children in the Lord is the most important job anyone can ever have.  But if that is all we do, if we only have time for that, what kind of an impact are we having?  How can we reach others for the Lord?  How can we support our fellow believers in their walk?  How can we build strong churches that impact the community if we just do what we must and not what we should?

We so easily forget the impact strong, supportive, active friendships and serving and giving to others has on us.  How it energizes and relieves stress; how it blesses us more than it blesses the person we are serving.  We forget just how worthwhile it is.  When it happens we say "we need to do this more often" but when it's over we so quickly go back to our everyday lives and forget. 

I can be as guilty of this as anyone else.  But I am trying to change it.  I want deep active relationships with people.  I want so much more than quick text messages and fast interrupted Sunday morning conversations.  I want to have people in my life that I can count on time and time again.  That I can call and know that I will get a response.  And I want to be that person for other people.  I am ready to let people in, to truly let them in and I am hoping to find people who will do the same with me.  I want to give even when I don't feel like I can give anymore.  And most of all I want to be used and I want to be effective.  I'm ready Lord, just show me where to go and what you would have me to do.