I've discovered that I can't multitask... yet again
August 31, 2010I woke up this morning and did my normal routine to get ready. But I had a decision to make. I was a little tired from last night’s cookout (which was so good if I do say so myself)… AND… I knew I was going to be out late tonight for the first Guys Bible Study of the semester. Should I drive my truck? This was probably the sensible thing to do, but I’d have to deal with paying for parking or go and get my truck from the PR lot in time to park on campus at 5:00pm. Or, should I ride my motorcycle? Not a wise move to ride late at night (cause I have to dodge those forest rats that some people call deer), especially when there is the possibility of being tired because I’m more likely to make mistakes.
Well after spending a while vacillating like a cat, trying to figure out if I want to come in the house or stay out, I made up my mind. I went out to get the grill out of my truck and thought, “what a wonderful day”. That settled it… I’m taking the bike. What a great day. Not to cool. Not to hot. It was just right.
Now, if I was going to be on campus all day I didn’t want to stay in my boots. So I got my tankbag so I could carry a pair of shoes to change into. Then I realized I still had John 1 in the map section of my tankbag. I got all excited. I started memorizing John 1 last semester but got sidetracked. Today was my day to start back.
I got suited up and plugged my helmet speakers into my ipod. Turned on Hillsong United, started the bike and pulled out of the driveway. Road through a neighborhood and got on 15/501 to get to Chapel Hill. It doesn’t get any better than this. Nice weather… great music… wonderful motorcycle… and I get to start memorizing John 1 again.
Does anyone see a problem here? You might see a few but I’m not giving up the motorcycle. I quickly realized that habit had me listening to music while trying to memorize scripture. My habit is like everyone else’s. I have gotten so used to filling my life with noise. I plug in my ipod before getting on the bike. The radio is on in the truck from the moment I turn the key. The TV is usually going in the background. While working in my office I often turn on itunes and listen to music.
None of these are necessarily bad… but some times we need to be still. Psalm 46:10 says,
“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
God knows how we’re wired and what we need. What we need is Him. But I find myself constantly filling my life with noise and movement. And all this noise and movement tends to distract me from God. I can’t multitask. I can’t keep my focus on God if I keep a noisy life.
So what am I going to do? Tonight I am going to listen to music on the way home. But I am going to ride quietly to work for month of September. While riding to work (truck or motorcycle) I will be meditating on God’s Word. And I’m going to be conscious of the noise in my life. God is way to important to me to allow Him to be drowned out by the mundane.
It’s small, but it’s a place to start. Anyone else have this problem?