You can see them in any airport, on any flight; weary travelers far from home on a business trip. They are in a hurry for the next flight, cell phone to their ear, talking, listening, making appointments…
They are at the car rental counters, the security lines, waiting for a taxi and in the hotel bar… and they are always with the cell phone. They are texting, downloading, taking calls. They are working hard, talking fast and trying to save their deals and satisfy their clients, and they are calling home to see if the kids made it home from school.
I’ve been that traveler myself; it isn’t much fun.
You can see them on the plane, looking at a picture of the kids they miss, the events they have missed, but them they have to get back to work.
When the dust finally settles, I wonder if these hard-working folks will have any regrets. Will they regret that they didn’t make one more meeting, one more call or one more deal? Somehow I doubt it. Will they regret the time they didn’t spend with loved ones?
Probably.
That life wasn’t for me, but I must say that I respect those who make the sacrifice. I’ve spoken to many of them, and I’ve noticed that so many feel that they are on a ride from which there is no exit; it’s sad really.
Faith, family, friends and relationships require more time and attention than many of us think we can afford to give them. Do you suppose that this could be the devil’s lie?
Could be.
Life Project Blog 
I use to be one of those. It is ok as long as you learn to prioritize. Many of the weary ones don’t prioritize and it all caches up.
There’s great insight in that comment Steve, thanks for making it. I’m thinking that it applies to all of us, no matter our situation!
Great point!
Don,
I used to be one of those but not on a plane…stuck in a hospital behind a desk for 60+ hours a week. It had gotten to the point were my coworkers could no longer, or at least I felt this way, see the light of Jesus shining through me. That was when I had to put in my resignation a go to full time mission.
Wow, what a testimony; purpose, dedication, what a blessing, thanks!
I agree with you on these. People are even talking while they are driving. That habit is really dangerous. We have not gotten better with the many gadgets, but we have put ourselves in a worse state. Everybody is either on the cell phone or their tablet. When something new comes out, we will spend the money to obtain it. We have turned into a technological society. It seems as though people cannot live without their cell phones and computers. The computer has gotten smaller along with our personal time with family and friends.
True enough! (and to be fair, look who is on a computer right now!)
🙂
Supposedly, we have a new and improved world. Yet one of the great ironies of modern life is that we have an abundance of labor saving devices. But we don’t seem to have enough time.
We forget that being “rich” once meant relatively little. Imagine being a tribal leader. What could you buy besides food, clothing and shelter. Weapons? A fancy head dress. A special bear skin coat? Really, you were better off making certain your retainers were well fed and happy. So that is what the “rich” did.
Yet it goes further than that. In the past, it was difficult to store “wealth.” Food, even buildings, rotted; everything besides gold and stone rotted. All you could do was keep your possessions dry. In some parts of the world, that would be easy, but in other parts moths rule.
So it is that in the world that was people found it necessary to focus on today and to let tomorrow take care of itself. Moreover, when they did work, they worked in the company of family and friends. And still we think we are wiser and better off.
That is a great observation; point well made! Thanks for sharing it
in the old days b4 mobile phones or internet, workers were really off-duty when they left the office. now, they are expected to be on standby to quickly answer an email or enquiry by customer.
In many ways it was easier in those days, not all that long ago! I remember having rolls of quarters in my bag so I could call the office from where ever I had to be!
I like the business contrast, but what about in our spiritual lives? will we face the end with regrets also, will we have a good report before the throne? live now but make it impactful. vw
That’s right where my mind goes on this subject… when we meet Him face to face, what will we say, what will He say…?
Oh gosh….help us Lord.
I digressed a bit in the previous post: i was thinking of Joshua and God when he was coming close to the end there was many places needing to be conquered. That’s what your post reminded me of. 🙂
That’s a really interesting thought, one I hadn’t considered. Living out on the road for work would be like that in many ways, one more conquest, one more ‘mission’ Hoping to get home…
amen.