like a hamster

So many times the clock is chasing after me. Begging me to waste more of it. More numbers slip by than honestly ought to as I go through these short days we have in this short life of ours. This perpetual battle of balancing my schedule sometimes finds me drowning in good intentions and commitments I’ve confirmed.

This week has been one of those weeks. Heavy. Emotional. Draining. And I sit here desperate for a cause. A cause to run myself ragged thinking it’s all for the best. And my mind can’t let go of one word.

Worthy. (Webster says: deserving effort, attention, respect).

Just like a hamster runs around on that circular track, so too I find myself running around in circles. Initially the things I add to the circle are great, in fact, one could call them worthy. The problem enters the picture, when someone tries to do too many different “worthy” activities. The required effort, attention and respect are stripped due to the constant flurry trying to accomplish too much.

All the things we pencil in on the calendar while convinced we are doing the world a favor and trying to make it a better place pale in comparison to His worthiness. We try to add so much into our lives, we end up losing more than we gain.

In a study called “Knowing God by Name”, Mary A. Kassian, enlightens the readers on some royal practices from ancient days. Apparently if a monarch ruled more than one country, it entitled him/her to wear more than one crown. Each crown correlated with the number of countries ruled by the said monarch. Kassian mentions that when Ptolemy came into Antioch as a victor, he already wore three crowns atop his head: two for upper and lower Egypt and another for his conquest in Asia.

These crowns are symbols of conquest and victory. Yet a crown will not do anyone any good in of itself. We can continue adding things into our lives, convinced our lives will be enhanced. But it’s not what we do that matters. It is not about us at all.

The apostle John had some visions about these crowns the monarchs wore around proclaiming their “greatness” for all to see. In Revelation 4:4, 9-11 we read Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne…the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.”

John cast a vivid image of the crowns we gather on our heads and the importance we place on ourselves. It isn’t about what we do and how many “worthy” activities with which we fill our days.

This hamster lifestyle is not what God calls us to. Running ourselves ragged isn’t what life is about. In the end, we won’t be wearing our crowns we gather in this life with pride. We’ll be throwing them at His feet.

He is what we are not.

He is worthy.