Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to
act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked
schemes. Psalm 37: 7 NLT
Despite
his actions, I did what I always do.
Driving to
the school where I teach takes about ten minutes. It would take less time, but
around seven stoplights litter my path—and most of them usually catch me. One
morning as I puttered along, I noticed a snazzy Range Rover behind me. It
didn’t take long for the person who drove it to figure out they didn’t want to follow
me, and they zoomed around.
I’ve been
driving since I was fifteen and have never had a ticket. I’m not a slow
driver—at least by the law’s standards—but I am by those who don’t enjoy going
the speed limit, or five miles over. Which is my norm. The only time I’ve ever
been stopped was when I had a pickup with oversized tires. They threw my
speedometer off by five miles an hour. Fortunately, the nice highway patrolman
understood and only gave me a warning. From then on, I adjusted my speed accordingly.
But back
to the Range Rover. As it rocketed around me, I watched it speed off to the next stop light. As it waited for the light to turn green, I pulled up beside it and stopped. The tortoise and hare story came to mind. I wondered if the
person in the Rover looked over and saw that the SUV they had shot around and
left in the dust was sitting at the same light they were. Probably not. They
were in a hurry, no doubt.
When the
light turned green, they peeled off again. I proceeded in my normal manner.
They came to the next light, which turned red just before they arrived. Once
again, I pulled up beside them. I smiled to myself and again wondered whether
they looked over to see who sat next to them. After the light changed, we
repeated the same thing one more time. As I turned to go to my school, they
sped off down the highway. They were too fast and too furious. I did what I do
anytime I drive: obey the speed limit.
This isn’t
the first time I’ve experienced such a scenario. I’ve learned fast cars don’t
necessarily get you anywhere sooner if lights or stop signs abound. All the
hurry-up does is burn more gas and take rubber off the tires. Getting in a
hurry doesn’t mean we’ll accomplish more or even get somewhere sooner. In fact,
if a policeman stops us for speeding, we might get there later than the person
who obeys the speed limit.
But enough
about driving. The psalmist didn’t have a car, and I doubt he could speed if he
rode a camel or a donkey. Each of those animals seems to have a somewhat casual attitude toward moving along. The psalmist’s advice: be still and
wait on God. Don’t worry about those who seem to plow ahead at breakneck speed
or do evil things to get what we might desire.
Life has
taught me that someone will always try to get ahead of me. Greed and selfishness drive them. People who think life is all about them and no one else are the ones the psalmist classifies as wicked. Maybe not to the degree they could be, but wicked nonetheless. But he gives good advice: don’t worry or fret about
them. God has our back, not theirs.
Yet, the
more important aspect is being still. Busyness often tempts us to get ahead—to
speed—at other’s expense. To focus only on us, neglecting or not thinking about
the needs of others. It also prevents us from hearing God’s Spirit—the person
of the godhead who keeps us going at the right speed and in the right
direction. The one who gives wisdom and direction. The one who keeps us from
speeding from one light to the next and having to stop at each one in the
process.
As bad as COVID-19
was, it forced many people to slow down. In certain fields, some had to speed
up to help temper the spread, treat the sick, and produce needed supplies. But
others slowed down and spent more time with friends and family—important
things.
When we
slow down . . . build silent times into our life’s schedule . . . we give ourselves
an opportunity to hear God. And this is essential if we’re to proceed through
life’s lights at the speed God wants us to travel. He has a path marked out—a
path that includes a certain timing. If we peel out on our own and at our own
speed, we’ll catch lights he doesn’t want us to, or we’ll arrive too late or
too early. God’s plan not only includes the goal but also the steps involved to
get there at the right time. The static of busyness keeps us from comprehending
the plan.
Slowing
down also builds our health so we can enjoy the plan—and the journey to the
goal. Busyness often brings with it things that lead to poor health—such as not
eating right, getting enough rest, or getting enough of the right exercise. No
wonder the fast-food industry is spiking. Grabbing a takeout pizza proves much
easier and faster than cooking a healthy meal at home. Although we often have
no control over the schedules our employers encumber us with, we can possibly make
the hard choice of choosing the employer during normal healthy economic times.
Sometimes, lower pay is not a bad thing.
As we
build downtime into our schedules, we have the opportunity to consider our
priorities and revamp them if necessary. After all, we only have one life and a
limited time to love and serve God, our families, and others.
If life
has become too fast and too furious for you, stop and ask God for wisdom to
revamp some things.
Father,
when the hurry of life overwhelms me, show me how to slow down.
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