SLOW DOWN!!!
At the end of the week I reflected on what my greatest challenges of the week had been and I discovered my answer connected with my reflection of last week when I asked, “What difference does it make what I am doing if I am doing it in the presence of God?” My greatest challenges came through several circumstances in regards to reading and crocheting. What could they both have in common? They both taught me to slow down so I could be in the presence of God and better be in His will.
When I began doing some spiritual reading, I began absorbing the material more and more. I saw what I read was being played out constantly in my life. Because of that I had to continually force myself to slow down and reflect on it. The material in my life in relation to what I read seemed to constantly coincide and it was making a difference for me.
The same thing happened with my book club book. After finishing the assigned chapters I wanted to go on, but I stopped myself. I slowed down instead of running ahead. There was no need to hurry on ahead. I slowed down and spent the time absorbing.
Crochet was no different. I finished making a stuffed toy. It wasn’t easy. There were days when my hand was cramping up so badly. I just wanted to put it aside. Previously that is exactly what I would’ve done for weeks and even months. I promised my son I would make it for him so that forced me to keep it up even if I had to do it slowly. My promise forced me to do it slowly. One stitch at a time. I had to do a great deal of ripping and starting over again. As much as I wanted to either put it aside or hurry up and get it done, I didn’t. I went slow and the end result was a great stuffed toy. It was the best I ever made and I learned methods that would help me in my craft. I got better. Now I have a baby Yoda to give to my adult son. A labor of love injected into my family that I am confident will be injected into the Body of Christ. I am confident that when we do things unselfishly they make a difference around the world in the mystical body of Christ.
While doing things slowly something else happened. I had a great inner peace. A greater feeling of love. A greater feeling of connectedness to God and others. I am understanding why Mr. Rogers felt that his slowness was a gift that helped him to touch lives because the slowness put him in the presence of God. I am convinced that we are far better able to be the prayer and make a difference when we slow down because it truly does put us in the presence of God and when we are in His presence, we can better hear Him so as to do His will.
I think we are better able to learn when we slow down and let ourselves be absorbed into what we are learning. What we learn most assuredly is God’s will and there is no telling how it will be used for God in the future. The sacrifices of time and the quality results make a difference in the Body of Christ because we are doing it all in the presence of God. Hurrying is often a default because it is routine, we want to do something else or we have placed a self-imposed deadline on the act, but I believe God and our true self is discovered when we slow down if at all possible.
I also learned that when I cut myself off from the opportunity to be connected with God and my neighbor in the entire Body of Christ through my hurriedness, I used my accusatory voice (the enemy) instead of the voice of the advocate (the Holy Spirit). I said things like, “It’s too hard. I can’t. I should do something I’m better at. I am no good at this.” With the accusatory mindset we deprive ourselves of slowing down, being in the presence of God, being the prayer and growing in the subject area. Instead of being the advocate and telling myself, “There is no need to hurry. Take your time. Nobody is waiting for you. This is where God wants you to presently be. This is your growth” and by that helping people in the Body of Christ, I deprived myself of the beautiful act of being connected.
While we place greater value on some things and little on others, God looks at the heart. This is true of all activities we embark on. I do see, however, that true value can be gained in doing activities slowly whenever possible so we can be more mindful of being in the presence of God and by that make room for our heart to grow. We should take a moment to discern if the quantity we want to achieve or the deadline we want to impose are only in our heads because making that connection with God and, therefore, the entire Body of Christ, is important. It is then that we become the prayer.
In the presence of God it all matters and doing things slowly helps us to be more aware of God’s presence so that with Him all we do makes a difference. It helps us to be more like Him. God definitely rested and while we know He answers all our prayers, sometimes it appears, in our estimation, that He is slow. Perhaps there is great value in embracing that slow period for it is in there that we find God and grow in His image and likeness. Perhaps slowness, when possible, is sacred. Perhaps when we are able to slow down, we have brief Sunday morning moment that puts us in the garden with Mary Magdalene at the time of the resurrection and we hear Jesus say our name. (John 20:11-19)
PRAYERFULLY REFLECT ON THE FOLLOWING
Meditate on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
“Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toilet or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. If God so clothed the grass in the field that is here today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will He not much more provide for you, oh you of little faith?” Luke 12:27-28
“Do not wear yourself out to gain wealth, cease to be worried about it.” Proverbs 23:4
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“As they continue their journey He entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed Him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to Him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to Him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’ The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” Luke 10:38-42
“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like 1000 years and 1000 years like one day.” 2Peter 3:8
“Then God’s said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” Evening came and morning followed—the first day.” Genesis 1:3-5
“On the seventh day God completed the work He had been doing; He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had undertaken. God bless the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work He had done in creation.” Genesis 2:2-3
“Ah! Rebellious children, who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who make an alliance I did not inspire, thus adding sin upon sin; they go down to Egypt without asking My counsel, to seek strength in Pharaohs protection and take refuge in Egypt’s shadow. Pharaohs protection shall become your shame, refuge in Egypt shadow your disgrace.” Isaiah 30:1-3