We’re busy doin’ nothin’
Workin’ the whole day through
Tryin’ to find lots of things not to do
We’re busy going nowhere
Isn’t it just a crime
We’d like to be unhappy, but
We never do have the time
I’m grateful that I was brought up with my parents’ post-war work ethic. Keep busy. Make yourself useful. Find things to do. Stay active. Bing Crosby singing ‘We’re busy doing nothing’ was funny because it was preposterous!
Fast forward to today’s world… the importance of constant interaction with a phone… the increasing awareness Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder… complaints of, ‘I’m bored’. Folks still can’t or won’t be ‘busy doing nothing’.
Yesterday I read Martin Saunders’ article in November’s ‘Premier Christianity’ that starts, ‘These days it seems like everyone is wearing headphones.’ He describes wireless technology, infinite streaming… folks listening to more music, and the rise in popularity of podcasts…
He concludes, ‘…thanks to technology there are no longer any moments in our lives when we have a chance to do nothing, be completely by ourselves or alone with God.’ He describes, ‘lost opportunities for quiet, thinking and reflection (that) are exactly where we could otherwise be building a spiritual life. These lost moments are where great ideas are hatched, God speaks, or our brains just get to rest a little.’
Musing…
…My childhood… It seems ironic. In school I learnt the poem ‘Leisure’ that starts:
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
…encouraging me to be busy doing nothing.
…Leading school assemblies… I’d tell a story about ‘gratitude’, ‘compassion’, ‘honesty’… whatever… We might pause for a moment of quiet reflection to apply the lesson to ourselves. Perhaps teaching and practicing being busy doing nothing – is something I could/should have done better.
…St Paul’s words… ’Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.’ …perhaps achieved by being busy doing nothing.
malcolmsmusings.org 
I enjoyed this post, Malcolm. It reminded of one of my favorite Calvin and Hobbes quotes, “There is never enough time to do all the nothing you want.”
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I love the quote, Dana. I think my problem in the past is that I’ve never wanted the ‘nothing’ – because I’ve never thought it’s OK to want nothing.
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Thank you, Malcolm! I have enjoyed learning that having a schedule of ‘nothing’ can be good.
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As always, wise words. We are so busy and the noise of the busyness is all around.
I’ve intentionally created a “no tech” day. Those who visit my home call it “quiet”. My ADHD twin says that technology calms her. It does the opposite for me.
I cherish my “doing nothing” time which essentially is my EVERYTHING ~ it’s time to read, reflect, and pray on the Word and how to apply it in my life.
I held many assemblies, like yours. I think I’m an old soul, Malcolm. I know I am.
I’d say we did our best at trying to have students apply these traits.
A friend asked me how I can remain at peace and not be anxious about everything going on in my life. I explained it exactly by your verse you shared in Philippians.
Oddly, humans forget we have a choice. Yes, there are seasons in life that are extremely busy. Carving out the time of “nothing” to give our Creator everything will add to our communion with him! With it comes peace.
God bless you, Malcolm!!
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Thank you for the kind words, Karla. As is often the case, it’s often about getting the balance between busyness and nothing-space. It seems to me that God’s peace can come to us in both… peace when we’re in stressful activity, and peace when we’re doing nothing, but perhaps feel that we ought to be doing something.
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You’re welcome, Malcolm! Absolutely! I was in a very stressful situation last week (well, many lately it seems) and I have to stop. Walk away. Pray. 🙏 I can find the peace because he’s there. I can hear him say, “Don’t push me away Karla, I’m right here.”
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Just been looking at pictures of the storm about to hit Jamaica, with an aerial photograph showing the eye of the storm. A reminder that by God’s grace there is peace to be found even at the centre of a storm, whether of a particular disaster or the pressurising business of the day.
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That’s a good illustration. Thanks, Bryan.
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An author friend just posted this verse: Now therefore stand still and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. – 1 Samuel 12:16 (ESV)
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It’s a great verse, Joy, in the context of Samuel calling for the people to have a better understanding of God and obeying that awesome God. I link it to the words of Moses before crossing the Red Sea: ‘The Lord will fight for you. You need only to be still.’ (Exodus 14:14) In both the ‘standing still’ is linked to faith in a God who can do what we can’t do – so that He can do it…
…Sorry. I’ve gone a bit preachy!
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Preachy is good, Malcolm. My author friend was widowed not quite a year ago. The anniversary looms. He’s got a couple of books in the works, probably in limbo. May God bless this tender waiting spot!
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Dystopia or utopia? Neither, its what we want it to be. The old question, did the gods ‘invent’ the humans or did the humans invent the god(s)? It is what we need it to be. Religion, if practiced quietly and privately, can be very comforting. When (and this is my opinion) it is practiced in groups or used to judge people, it is very dangerous. As for AI it can only teach us the things we know already.
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Thanks, Bridget. I agree that groups of people following different religions can be very dangerous and destructive; other groups (that don’t usually get the publicity) can be powerful forces for good in their communities.
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So much wisdom in this post! We must at times be still as scripture instructs us to be.: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) In quiet moments of reflection, we draw strength from God for all the ‘doing’ we must do. It is not just the ‘doing’ in life. It is the ‘doing’ that He would have us to do that is important.
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Thanks, Linda. Discerning the right ‘doing’ is so important. Last night a few pf us were talking about probably being at our worst when we think we know what we are doing!
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