Try To Slow Down

20 Sep

“It doesn’t matter how slow you go as long as you don’t stop.”  ~ Confucius

We are in a very fast and chaotic world.  It seems that everything that needs to be accomplished has to be done quickly.  Everyone is in a rush.  The tension in the air is quite thick as people worry about deadlines, about making sure that things are done and done correctly and as quickly as possible.

For most of us, we do not even feel the effects of this constant rushing.  We do not feel it, that is, until we are removed from it for a prolonged period of time.  The best example is vacation.  How many of us go on vacation for at least a week and find that, for the first two or three days, we are still experiencing some sense of urgency.  It follows us on our vacation.  We have to arrive on time.  We have to get checked in in record time.  We have to be at our dinner reservations immediately.  We feel that, if we are a moment late to anything, the whole day could unravel around us.

What happens on day three or four?  We begin to feel ourselves unwind.  The urgency is no longer there.  We tell ourselves, “I’m on vacation.”  We breathe a sigh of relief and can begin to take things at a slower pace.  We realize that nothing has to be accomplished immediately and that we have time on our hands, as much as we want, to relax.

Once the day of departure looms, we begin to key up again, knowing that we are going to be in the rush of the world all over again.

Perhaps in the midst of a vacation, we could lecture ourselves a bit about the need to slow down.  Maybe we would learn a lesson.  We would live a less hectic and anxious life if we would be able to slow down.  The problem is not and has never been in slowing down.  The problem comes when we stop.

In order to meet the Lord better in prayer, we have to learn to slow our lives down.  Otherwise, we treat God to the same hectic schedule that we apply to the rest of our lives.  “Okay, God, I’ve got fifteen minutes for you right now.  Let me tell you want I want and what I need.  Let me tell you about my friends, my co-workers, my colleagues.  Let me tell you about my cares and concerns.  Okay, now it’s your turn.  I’m going to try to listen to you.  Oh, wait a minute.  I can’t do that right now.  My fifteen minutes are up and I need to rush to another appointment.  I’ll try to catch you next time.”

Slow your life down so that you have time for God.

FAITH ACTION:  Make time for God today.  Before you go into your regular litany with Him, give Him some silent time and let Him go first for a change.