Miller's War on Busyness

Some years ago, I declared war. It all started in the early 90s. I was newly appointed to staff in one of the largest churches in Adelaide. My role was to oversee all midweek teaching within the church and to pioneer a Bible College for our denomination. At the time, I had two small highly active kids and Chris needed help with them, but I was seriously out of control with my hours.

If you don’t take charge of your schedule, no one will! The ‘system’ (even in a caring environment like a church) just won’t do it. I was averaging 80hr weeks – late nights, early mornings, ministry trips away from home.

I came to my senses during a teaching trip to a large Bible College in Port Moresby. I phoned home to a harassed wife to see how she was going. After a short conversation, she said, “Do you want to speak to your daughter? She’s started speaking.” As I hung up the phone that day, I wondered what on earth I was doing. Chris was a single mum!

My world was full of accolades. I got praise at every level for the quality and quantity of work I was putting out, and I had an increasing schedule of invitations as a guest speaker.

But I was rapidly burning out and losing touch with my wife and kids. I arrived home from PNG a few weeks later, and Chris honestly looked me in the eye and said, “Why do I need you?” When I wasn’t around, she could develop a nice predictable routine. When I came home, I wrecked it all.

It was the beginning of what I later came to call Miller’s War on Busyness. God never expected you to be so productive in your work or ministry that you lose touch with your health and family.

Join me in my War! No one’s going to fight it for you.

Psalm 27:1-2 “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.”