Slow Down

Slow Down

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. Psalm 39:6

Slow down, you move too fast. The words to the old song were drifting through my mind as the flashing lights of a police car appeared in my rearview mirror. Too late! I was racing down the highway, late to a meeting across town because two last-minute calls had kept me from leaving on time. When I saw the tall policeman head toward my car with his ticket book, I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“You were speeding, Ms. Fuller,” he said, looking at my driver’s license.

“I’m sorry, sir. You’re right. I was going too fast.”

“You’re a lucky woman. Today I’m not giving tickets, just warnings, and here’s yours: Slow down!”

Does the pace of life make you feel as if you’re on a racetrack? I know the feeling. On a purely practical note, research shows that those who take short breaks actually achieve more each day, make fewer mistakes, and experience less stress than those who push through and never take a breather.

But more important, today’s verse tells us that “all our busy rushing ends in nothing.” When we really grasp this truth, we can take a deep breath, give our time to God, and dedicate at least a portion of every day to seeking him and reading his words. When we feel rushed, we can take a few moments to close our eyes and breathe slowly while thanking God for his goodness. We can move our eyes away from the laptop screen or the pile of laundry to the sky beyond the window and remind ourselves of the truth that the Author of our lives, who himself is eternal, has given us all the time we need to do everything he has truly called us to do on this day. When we operate from that mind-set, we accomplish more, not less, and we do so with an eternal perspective. —CHERI

Holy Spirit, help me to pace myself, to press the “pause” button and remember your goodness and mercy. Remind me that you are all I need and that you’ll provide the time necessary to do everything that really matters today.

God gives me the gift of twenty-four hours a day; yet he is kind enough to accept in return the little time I give back to him.

—PAUL TOURNIER (1898–1986), SWISS PHYSICIAN AND AUTHOR