I would say the majority of humans are “busy people.” Now, sometimes we make ourselves busy when we don’t need to or we make ourselves busy with things that don’t really matter. But, in some way, shape, or form, we are busy people. We live in a fast-paced culture. If you’re reading this and you live in Blacksburg, VA, then you may still be busy, but you know that the town slows down when the college students leave. You don’t have to wait in line for restaurants, you can drive down main street in 5 minutes (unless it’s 5 PM), and you see normal aged people walking around.
I love it.
This past Saturday I had no agenda. That is rare for me because I’m a serious planner. I break up my week into specific blocks of time to designate towards certain areas of my work and life. As a type A aficionado, I find this to be extremely helpful because it allows me to have a lot of freedom because of the structure. Sounds like an oxymoron for you “Type B” folks, but I promise it’s a real thing! I’ve tried to incorporate at least one into my week where I don’t have an agenda. I don’t check my email. I try to stay off of my phone (in fact I’ll turn it off). I don’t do anything on my to-do list. How to rest well and what I’ve experienced from that is a blog for another time, but these are all things that I’ve found great value in. It allows me to press pause, reset, and refocus my eyes on Jesus and appreciate everything that’s around me.
But, back to this Saturday.
I went on a run through Tech’s campus and decided to stop at the new basketball courts next to Lee/Pritchard Hall. As I started playing, there was another guy who came and started to play as well. After shooting around for a bit, I introduced myself and he proceeded to whoop me for the next hour (I’m a soccer player, okay?!). We talked for awhile afterwards and I finished my run back home. As I was running back, I was thankful for that time playing basketball. Why? Because I had cleared my day to be intentionally free for whatever the Lord had for me that day and it was refreshing. I didn’t have an appointment after my run. I had nowhere to be which allowed me the flexibility to play basketball with this guy and genuinely get to know him.
I’m not sure how the Lord is going to use that new found friendship going forward, but I do know there is value in consistently creating space for nothing. I don’t mean sitting around and watching Netflix for 8 hours nothing. I mean intentionally creating space with no agenda other than to be free for whatever it is that Jesus has in store for you.
For context, I’m a 24 year old that isn’t married and doesn’t have any kids. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t have daily responsibilities. So, if you’re reading this and your first thought is: “This isn’t possible and this guy has no idea what it’s like to be married and be a parent.” You’re absolutely right, I don’t. But, I believe as a follower of Jesus, from reading his word, that there is great value in creating space and time to be completely available to whatever it is he has for you. I will let you figure out the practicals in your life and what that will look like. For me, my Saturdays are intentionally free and I have to constantly fight to keep it that way.