Take Time To Slow Down
Take Time To Slow Down
Today as I was driving home from church I noticed many of the store parking lots was empty. It made me think, we really don’t take time to slow down anymore.
The stores that I had driven by had closed for the day due to the Easter Holiday. For just a moment, it made me smile that the stores recognized the importance of the day. Allowing families to celebrate as they may, or attend the church services that maybe they normally wouldn’t because of work.
It also made me a bit melancholy. As I thought of times when I was a child, when everything shut down on Sunday. People could wind down, rest a bit and enjoy their families. You had to think ahead and make sure you had either filled the gas tank for a Sunday drive or you had the groceries you needed for your Sunday meal.
Something We’re Missing Today
I think this is something we’re missing in today’s busy fast paced world. We’ve become accustom to having everything right now at our finger tips. You can pick up your phone and have access to information, movies, games, books all within a few clicks. You can even order something from online and have it the next day (or even some locations same day) right to your door.
We often wonder why we are all so tired and regret Monday morning rolling around and truthfully the biggest thing is we really don’t take time to slow down. It makes me think of the lyrics from the country band Alabama.
I’m in a hurry to get things done
-Alabama “I’m In A Hurry” 1992
Oh I rush and rush until life’s no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I’m in a hurry and don’t know why…
We try to cram so much into our lives. Things we “Think” we need to get done, when we’re really missing out on the important things. Time with our children, grandchildren, spouse, or significant other. How many times recently have you said “Oh, I wish I had time to…” read a book, catch a movie, go for a walk, take a nap.
I’ve heard recently of people setting reminders on their phones to do every day task. Tasks such as taking out the trash or unload the dishwasher etc. I’ve also talked to people that set multiple alarms to wake up in the morning.
Why? Because our brains are on overload from not taking time to just slow down a moment, breath and recharge your batteries.
Think About This…
Think about it, all the way back to the beginning of time. God created the heavens and the earth in 6 days and on the 7th he rested. Even the 4th Commandment “Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy”. And in Exodus we read “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work”
In the book 24/6: A prescription For A Healthier, Happier Life” Matthew Sleeth, MD writes that if we took one day a week to rest, over the course of the year that is 52 days. Average that over the course of an average life span and that is 11 years. Imagine the amount of memories your could make with family. Or the number of books, or movies you could cross off your list. Or even, the number of art pieces you could paint, sweaters you could knit.
Why should we wait for a holiday or a rare vacation to take time to slow down? It has been said it takes 30 days to form a new habit. Think about that. in 30 days you could gain 4 days of rest.
Side Note About The Photo
Side note the photo that I chose for this post is a picture I took while walking at a local college to attend a banquet fundraiser. It had a walkway over a bridge from the parking lot to the building I was going to so I decide to pause to snap this photo. Something I’ve been trying to do more. Slow down and take time to enjoy life even just for a moment.
Great thoughts Frank. And so true. Crazy work schedule and I’m Not getting much down time. I can tell the difference when there’s no “rest”, or very little. God gave us a day of rest for a reason.