“Our victories have come to resemble defeats. In spite of our triumphs, we have fallen victims to the work of our hands; it is as if the forces we had conquered have conquered us.” – Abraham Heschel

These days, efficiency is a god.

It is young and strong, immensely capable and accomplished, though somehow never hurried. It pours out success on those who make the most of every situation.

Driven by its promises, we serve efficiency through the liturgy of immediate optimization. Every hour needs a purpose. Every person needs a goal. Every effort needs a grade.

Shame to those caught in the sin of carelessness. Search your heart (or better yet, your calendar) for any sign of neglect.

Have you considered who you could pay to take over mundane responsibilities like mowing the yard or driving your kids to school?

Speaking of children, perhaps yours would do well with one more extracurricular to prepare them for the future?

Are you tired? Perhaps you should escape for some time, though not too long. As it is written: work hard, play hard.

This cult—with its anxious chant—prompts us to fill today, draining the abundance of tomorrow.

There is no time to think ahead or process the past. There is no opportunity to explore or be surprised. There is no space to respond when things go wrong. We can only react.

So we cram our lives with average opportunities, too agitated to recognize the great ones.

Still, there are some who follow the old ways. They tell us, “Let time lie fallow. Let yourself rest.”

This is not the rest that comes from collapsing, but the choice to leave hours without purpose, futures without blueprints, efforts without evaluation.

Could you leave portions of our calendar unattended, with no plan but to be in the same space as those you care about?

Could you budget 90% of your income and let the rest sit unassigned, ready for a chance to save or give?

Or plan the flights and hotel, but commit to do nothing on the first day except explore the area?

There is magic in leaving margin.

That said, you will need to find your own way. Many will tell you exactly how to budget your time and money, precisely when to say no, specifically which commitments to drop.

But that would just bring you back to worshiping the work of your own hands.