“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1: 27 – 29

Susan was an adrenaline junkie. Not the kind that led to the compulsion to skydive, rock climb or swim with sharks. It was the kind of adrenaline rush that resulted in Susan constantly rushing around to ensure perfection and the timely completion of mammoth tasks.

Now, Susan lies in her hospital bed writhing in agony. The pain shooting through her lower abdomen forces her to recoil. The medical professionals can do nothing for her at this point except wait for the pain medication to kick in. Susan’s hectic schedule had finally taken a toll on her. She is burnt out, to say the least and she now suffers the consequence. The abdominal pains are symptoms of gastroenteritis due to a weakened immune system and she has also been diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Between the pain, Susan’s mind wonders to the many days, which stretched into months, where she would go off nothing but adrenaline. Susan’s day typically started at 5:00 a.m. with family worship, after which she would make breakfast, pack the kids’ lunch, get them ready for school, get dressed and be out the door without a morsel to eat. Susan’s hectic work schedule would further compound the problem as lunch breaks were typically taken at the end of her workday. Then, by the time she got home it was time to switch gears. Barely on “E”, Susan would take on the task of helping the kids with their homework and fixing dinner since John, her husband, had longer work hours.

I know there are many Susans out there. The sad reality is, too many persons experience this hectic, harmful lifestyle. We must stop before it stops us. Busy schedules make adrenaline an issue. Many persons become addicted to adrenaline without realizing. It is commonly overlooked because it is easily masked as a “typical busy day”.

Keep calm. Busy schedules do not automatically make you an adrenaline junkie. “Those who are busy by necessity will be grateful for a break when they get a weekend morning to sleep in or a relaxing evening in with their loved ones. An adrenaline junkie, in contrast, will continually add more to their schedule or list of responsibilities if things begin to slow down.”[1] Which one are you?

Healthy Management of Busy Schedules

I know my love for my children causes me to instinctively put their needs before my own but this is not always wise. Consider the flight safety instructions that we receive before take – off. In the event of an emergency we are advised to place our oxygen mask on first before assisting minors or anyone else. This is practical since we are able to provide the best help when we are performing optimally. Selfishness is sometimes good. Make a deliberate effort to set aside personal time for rest, recreation, spiritual rejuvenation and practise healthy lifestyle choices that will promote quality of life. When we are at our best, we can offer the best care to our loved ones.

The same principle can be applied to our spiritual lives. God has commissioned us to preach and teach the good news of salvation. This job can be done more effectively when we are healthy. Therefore, effective missionary work is intrinsically tied to healthy habits. Returning to my analogy with the oxygen mask, just as it is critical to put one’s oxygen mask on first, it is also vital that we feast on the bread of life daily. “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” Proverbs 12:25. When we are filled with God’s words we become less anxious and will naturally have more to share. Daily Bible study is the beginning of the development of a relationship with God. Finally, do not allow your anxieties about your long “To Do” list to deprive you of a good night’s rest. “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?” Luke 12: 25 – 26. God wants us to succeed, and He has an eternal goal in mind. Allow the Holy Spirit to equip you.

[1] Adrenaline Junkie? 3 Sings that Your Adrenaline Seeking Behaviors are Wreaking Havoc, Ashwood Recovery, May 20, 2017, accessed January 5, 2019 https://www.ashwoodrecovery.com/blog/adrenaline-junkie-3-signs-adrenaline-seeking-behaviors-wreaking-havoc/