I don’t know about you, but lately I have been going pretty fast through life recently. I generally try to avoid driving during ‘rush hours’ in my little town, but in reality things usually run pretty smoothly without lots of delays to get where you are going if you give yourself enough time. My theory was that if you have to wait more than 30 seconds at an intersection, it’s a traffic jam. Though, if you are like me, you can be rushed any time of day if you are running behind schedule. I had to be at a school 70 miles away from home on Tuesday morning and I was later than planned getting out the door. These are days that little delays along the way irritate me more than other times. Its not everyone else’s fault that I’m late, its my own, so why should I be upset at anyone else? Are there times in your life where you feel the pressure to go faster than you would like to get something done, or for someone else to do something for you?
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4
It seems like things slowed down considerably from March to August this past year, and in theory I had more time to get some things done, but with juggling responsibilities at home and work, not as much got done as I would have liked. So, its not always that amount of time that makes a difference, as time goes by at about the same speed for us all, but its how we use the time that we have. As we get older, some responsibilities seem to increase a bit more with age, and maybe that is why time seems to go by faster each year. How often do you stop to take a break from all the running and responsibilities that each day holds? Sometimes when I have a cancellation in my schedule, I feel a short sense of relief, until I realize that I may have to reschedule for another time, and think about all the other things that I still have to do. But sometimes, it allows me a chance to slow down a bit and re-focus on doing things well instead of just getting them done. There is usually a day or two each week when I find myself in a town away from home where I have 5-10 minutes during lunch to take a slow walk and just appreciate the beauty of the world around me and breathe a little more deeply. Since I hurt my foot 2 weeks ago, most of my walks have been slower, but being intentional about it helps also. What are some ways you build breaks into your day from all the distractions this world has to offer?
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
God gives us tools to bring balance back to our lives, but if we don’t use them, what good are they? Any time we make time to listen, we are giving up control of what we want to do and putting others before ourselves. Often, when we are rushed, we don’t take time to consider the needs of others. Taking the time to sit before God and listen to Him speak to us through his Word, or in Prayer puts our priorities in the back seat and can help reset things where they are most helpful to us and others. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes getting lots of things done in a timely manner definitely feels good, but when you start feeling crushed by all you have to do, you either need to pull up your pants and get to work, or consider whether or not you are filling your time with the right things. We all have an expiration date on our heads and it is in our own best interest to use that time for things that matter the most. May you find time to take a look at those things in your life today.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9
Yours in Christ
Clark
