Dear Life, Can You Please Slow Down?

Dear Life,

Can you please slow down?

I mean really. I’m doing all I can to live in the moment. To appreciate what’s around me. But, seriously. How can it be June 26 already? Wasn’t it May 1 just two days ago?

I can’t say I wasn’t warned. My parents told me you gain speed as we get older. I found that hard to be true at the time. How could you go any faster than you were then? They were right.

Life, you are going by way too fast!

But, I can’t help believe we’ve done this to ourselves. We’ve caused you to increase your speed. It’s easy to get caught up in the urgent, the fast pace, and the rush of you. We cram in you more than what’s healthy or necessary. We attempt to squeeze every ounce out of you on a daily basis. And, when we do, one day we wake up and realize it’s June 26 when it should be May 3.

This has left many of us realizing there’s got to be more to you than this.

Some of us are doing all we can to simplify you. Some are finding unique ways to enjoy your pace. Others have just accepted this is the way you are and have thrown their hands up in the air and given in to the push of the rat race.

Many of us, however, have this nagging urge within us to make a change. Many of us are compelled to look at you differently. We desire to slow you down, but sometimes it’s just easier to keep doing what we’re doing.

What’s the answer?

Doing more, doing it faster, managing time better? That sounds like a burnout sentence. Is it to stop doing everything? Quit all we’re involved in? That doesn’t sound realistic or fun. Life, what can we do to slow you down?

Jeremiah 2:25a in the Message translation encourages me this morning.

Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry? Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway?

Even though God’s prophet, Jeremiah, is referring to Israel chasing after other gods and idols, these words are still appropriate for us today.

How to apply Jeremiah 2:25a to life today:

• Slow down.
  Something happens when we slow our pace. Our minds tend to follow. We find clarity in our thinking and our focus becomes sharper. Slowing down causes us to notice what’s around us and appreciate the little things in life.

• Take a deep breath.
  When we rush or are stressed we tend to hold our breath. That causes lack of oxygen to our brains and bodies and causes more stress! Who wants that? Take dedicated deep breaths throughout the day. Allow our bodies to relax as we do.

• What’s the hurry?
  Why do we hurry? Why do we rush so much? What if we walked errands instead of running them? What if we actually drove the speed limit? Let’s do things different today. Let’s not hurry to so much. Stand in the longest line at the grocery store. Take a longer way to work. Be empowered by choosing not to hurry.

• Why wear yourself out?
  Good question. Why do we? What’s the point of that? There’s a better way to live. Choose to take care of yourself. Spend time every day doing something you enjoy. Sit and do nothing for 20 minutes each day. Recharge and refresh yourself.

• Just what are you after anyway?
  Another great question. What are we after? More stuff? More money? A better life? What if we could be, as my husband calls is, “content but not satisfied?” Content with where we are, but knowing right now isn’t all there is. God has more for us and journeying through this life with Him will allow us to experience it all.

Life, it’s time to treat you differently.

We may not do it perfectly, nor quickly, but life, with God’s help, we’re going to do what we can to slow you down. To appreciate you more. To thank God for you and to cherish each day we’re given. We’ve got one chance to live you out. We’re going do it together.

Blessings!

 

 

It’s a joy to link this post today with Mary Geisen for #TellHisStory.