Life can be hectic. Merriam Webster defines hectic as, “characterized by activity, excitement or confusion.” The dictionary further lists agitated, frenzied, overactive and overwrought as some of its synonyms.
It seems like those synonyms describe my life at times. I say things like, “I have too much on my plate right now”, or “I don’t have enough time to get everything done.” Sound familiar? It can be frustrating because most of us like peace and quiet! But it certainly seems that there are times when life can move too fast for us to be able to stop. If you are like me, you might feel like you are just too busy to even slow down.
When I get overwhelmed, I may yearn for the “good old days”. But what are the good old days, really? We might find that the “good” in those old days is simply a matter of perspective. Are we yearning to be a kid again? Of course, life was simpler when we were children; we didn’t have as much responsibility. But who wants to go through growing up all over again? Are we yearning to go back in time? We might find those by-gone days were hectic in their own way, contrary to our romantic notions.
My parent’s and grandparent’s lives were very different than mine. They were affected by not only the great depression, but also WWI and WWII. My grandfather lost his home in the depression when my mom was a little girl. My great uncle was killed in the war. I’m sure that those situations weren’t easy. Those times must have been extremely hectic, and very difficult.
How many times have we heard our parents say that things were very different (implying better) when they were young? How many times have we said (and meant) the same thing? Our parent’s lives may have been simpler, but they weren’t necessarily easier. They did much more manual labor because they had fewer modern conveniences. They worked hard for what they had, and they took great care of their belongings because replacing them could be problematic – they had no credit cards! Even in their simplicity, those years could be hectic. But just like any other time period, there were good times too. My mom often told stories of taking her nickel and going to the movies on Saturday. There were lots of family outings, and a love for the out-of-doors and life’s simple pleasures.
My generation saw many changes to my parent’s lifestyle. We were inundated with modern conveniences, we didn’t always need to work hard for our money, things became disposable, and debt became acceptable. With those changes, one could imagine that life would be less hectic, but it is not. Yet our lifestyle is also conducive for entertainment and recreation.
I see the upcoming generation as working even less, spending even more, and caring little for traditional values. I see that generation being even more hectic because they are losing an appreciation for the simple things of life and demanding constant stimuli. I wonder what simple pleasures they will enjoy. Will it all be electronic??
Our minds are designed to blot out bad memories and hold on to good ones. Perhaps, that’s why each generation remembers their time as better than that of the current generation. I know that my parents and grandparents worried much about my generation – the advent of rock music was very distressing to them. They were concerned that the changes our generation was experiencing would be our undoing. But we thought their concerns were totally unfounded! We loved our music and the modernization of our culture. We fancied ourselves as pioneers and forerunners. We thought we could fix all the wrongs of the world.
But I bet every generation throughout history thought the same thing. Considering that, for my grandparent’s generation, the Civil War was recent history, they must have felt an urgent need to make the world a better place. My parent’s generation saw the beginning of radio, movies, phones and TVs. I’m sure they felt that they were changing the world in every way.
My generation has seen radio broadcasts become online streaming. Our TVs went from outlandish boxes with a small black and white picture to giant flat-screens with 4-K resolution that is clearer and brighter than our eyes’ own sight. I can remember my grandmother’s party-line phone plugged into the wall as I walk around doing a FaceTime video on my cell. How far will we go?
There is no question that life is different for each generation, but that doesn’t necessarily mean better or worse – just different. Our parents worried about us with all the changes they saw, and we are concerned for our kids and grandkids with all the changes we see coming. But we must remember that there is no new thing under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Each generation has or had its good points and bad. It is up to us to learn from the past generations and incorporate as much as possible of their good into our present generation, then relay as much of that as we can to the next generation.
I think it is safe to say, that generally life is and always has been hectic. Since we cannot change the time in which we live, we need not yearn for the past, nor worry for the future. We can have peace when we are born again because God gave it to us. It is the goodness of God that led us to repentance, and it is His grace that keeps us going. When our lives are particularly hectic, and we feel like we can’t slow down, God can still help and guide us. He can help us put on the brakes and provide us with serenity. And even though it might seem counterintuitive at the moment, when we stop and take time to pray, hectic becomes manageable. No matter how hectic our lives may get, we can always take a minute pray. And that minute might surprise us by how marvelous the things are that God will do for us!
Note to my readers: Many thanks for taking time out of your hectic schedule to read my blog. It blesses more than you can know. Love you!