A tortoise.
A hare.
A race.
One fast like lightening. The other is methodically slow.
Who will you bet upon to win?
If you know the Aesop Fable- your money will be well spent betting on the turtle!
Because the race isn’t always about the swift.
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” ~Proverbs 21:5
Translation: Slow and steady wins the race.
Oh, how I wish I could readily embrace this concept!
Many of my days are a blur- as my natural tendency is to be as fast and efficient as possible; I race around with a go-go attitude and easily slip into rabbit mode. I can hear the rabbit from Alice & Wonderland chirping in my ear- "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date- no time to say hello/goodbye... I'm late. I'm late. I'm late."
(Yes, I’ve sung this in my head before while rushing to an appointment!)
I know I can’t possibly be the only one living a hurried life!
In fact, I just listened to a Podcast by Pastor Chip Ingram that spoke emphatically on "ruthlessly eliminating hurry from your life." He highlighted how speed or hurry is actually in direct opposition and incompatible with godliness, peace, loving others, and hearing God's voice. Ingram shared how, for two years straight, he purposefully combatted hurry by driving only in the right lane and not passing other drivers, selecting the longest line at the grocery store, and arriving at the airport hours in advance to wait leisurely for his plane.
I listen to these suggestions and cringe because they are difficult for me.
Yet, I know deep in my heart Ingram is right- if we are in a constant state of hurry, we miss opportunities to be kind, to extend help, or hear God's promptings. Rushing keeps us in a place of distraction and anxiety, which hinders our walk with Christ. When we are hurried we are essentially blind to important matters around us because they are so blurred we just can’t see them!
“It is refreshing, and salutary, to study the poise and quietness of Christ. His task and responsibility might well have driven a man out of his mind. But He was never in a hurry, never impressed by numbers, never a slave of the clock.” ― J. B. Phillips
Like Christ, when we are no longer slave to the clock and can focus our attentions methodically on the important, the fruits of the spirit can unfold, and a hurried life can be replaced with: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
So, let's shift into slow motion. When done right, we won't miss the good stuff
and we aren't exhausted when crossing the finish line!
Father, we ask for your help in easing our desire to rush through this life. Hurry is an enemy to our walk with you. Motivate us to deliberately choose to slow down and help us to see that slow and steady helps to produce the fruit of the spirit in our lives and allows us to finish well.
Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ~Ephesians 5:16