Monday Morning Manna: Slowing Down or Hurrying Up

I’ve spent much of my life in a hurry: in a hurry to achieve; in a hurry to arrive; in a hurry to finish. I attribute much of that to the deadly combination of being both a workaholic and a perfectionist. Even in retirement, I’ve failed to slow down much. I fear I’ve been in such a hurry, I’ve run past some significant life experiences. Too late I discovered the Yiddish Proverb, “No good comes from hurrying.” By the time I discovered the quote from Robert Louis Stevenson – “He who sows hurry reaps indigestion” – I already had indigestion. On the other hand, one who hurries, experiences more than the one who moves through life with a slower pace. While I should have slowed down occasionally, I’m glad I didn’t miss anything I’ve experienced. This is where you do as I say, and not as I do: the key to a meaningful life is learning how to pace oneself. There are times to hurry and times to slow down. After all, God, our example of perfect balance, thunders from the heavens (2 Samuel 22:14) and speaks and the earth shakes (Psalm 46:6), but He can also be heard in the sounds of silence. The Psalmist encouraged, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:6), and Isaiah reported God saying, “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). What do you need to do this week – slow down or hurry up?

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.