A few weeks ago, I preached about Christian character development and how growth happens as we come to know ourselves—our personalities, gifts, particular temptations, and flaws. I mentioned that when I get stressed, my natural response is to move fast and get things done—to hustle, check things off the to-do list, and keep pushing forward. Move it, people! I have sensed God calling me to slow down because of this tendency and ruthlessly eliminate hurry.
Several of you told me afterward that you long to eliminate hurry, but the pace of your lives and the level of your responsibilities make it impossible. I understand that, and certainly, there are seasons of life when it is more challenging. However, eliminating hurry is not primarily about clearing items from your to-do list or calendar (though that could be part of it). It is much more about cultivating an internal posture of calm and centeredness and adopting some external practices to support that stance. If we can take time to center ourselves in Christ and in our own bodies—slowing our heart rate and our souls—then we can move from task to task less frantically. We can learn to live with a long to-do list, an overflowing email inbox, and a packed calendar while approaching each task, event, or person in front of us with intention and care. When we are unhurried, we can hear the voice of God calling to us or the voice of the person in front of us trying to get our attention. We can even attend to our own needs—for food, rest, and play—with more care. Therefore, the busier we are, the more essential it becomes to pause, pray, and return to the still center of God’s peace within us.
Beyond pausing to pray and center yourself every day, you can also regularly ask yourself, “When is enough, enough?” This helps us remember and understand that our to-do list will never truly be finished, and even if it is for a time, it will fill back up again! Set aside unhurried blocks of time to be unproductive. Do something fun! Read, work in the yard (if you enjoy it), walk, relax, enjoy time with God and the people you love. Better yet, take a day (Sabbath keeping)! These moments remind us that the world does not fall apart if we step away. The call is not necessarily to do less (although maybe you need to do less), but more importantly, it is to live differently. Let God’s voice and your own centeredness set the pace of your life instead of the endless pressures around you. Your soul will thank you for it.
—Carol