5. SLOW DOWN

CALL TO LAMENT

We stand at a crucial period in history, when ravenous powers are poised to devour the free world—aided and abetted by Christian pride and pursuit of power. But it’s not too late...
HOME PAGE​

 THIS SERIES: SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

We are bombarded at every turn, multi-media messages exhorting us to do more, multi-task more efficiently, shoehorn more into our schedules. After all, we have been sold the line that successful people are high achievers—the ones who work long and hard and still fit in all sorts of enriching activities in their ‘free’ time.

And so, for many of us, time appears to speed up; the days, weeks and months fly past in a blur—the consequence of busyness, of having so many ‘plates’ spinning that if we stop, they might all come crashing around our ears. The digital age, for all its benefits, has added to this frenzy by creating a climate of instant gratification—we want and expect everything immediately.
And the habit of always doing at least two things at once means our attention is always divided, a fact that recent neuro-scientific research suggests has a negative effect on our mental processes and well-being.
​
The bottom line is that we need to slow down—for our immediate benefit, and our long-term health and happiness. Building a simpler life means rejecting the tyranny of the urgent; refusing to jam-pack our days with activity, and ignoring the pressure to conform to others’ expectations; taking time instead to simply be.

​5 WAYS TO GET OUT OF THE FAST LANE

1. In our fast-paced living, we often don’t really notice what’s happening around us. Choose some daily activities to do at an unhurried pace and pay full attention to them. Noticing the details of life will make time will appear to slow down.

2. Determine to really savour and enjoy the present moment; we only have one life—let's make the most of it. Sharing with others through photos, and written or verbal communication, helps to build a bank of special memories which will enhance our sense of well-being in days to come.

3. Make a note of how often the habit of multi-tasking kicks in. Choose some tasks to do with full concentration. For example, resist the temptation to read or watch television while eating, or chat on the mobile phone while shopping. Gradually develop a new habit of complete focus.

4. Consider adopting the idea of a Sabbath rest—one day per week to stop and rest; take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Perhaps a fast from digital taskmasters can also be included—one day a week when we don’t open emails, review our work schedules or take work-related phone-calls; one day a week when we are unavailable if we choose. (Incidentally, for most Christians, Sunday is far from a restful day…)
​
5. Relax and enjoy the important people in your life—investing in strong relationships is one of the most important things we’ll ever do. Resolve to become a good listener—you may change someone’s life!

​TIME FOR THE LORD

Although slowing down is important for our health and well-being, there is another hugely important reason. When we race through our days we leave no room for the Lord… I wonder how many encounters with Him we miss in our hurry?

Exodus tells the story of how Moses, seeing a burning bush in the desert, made the decision to stop and investigate. And the result was a revelation of God which would change the face of history [Exodus 3].
​
What can God do with us if we slow down and become available to Him?

​EXPLORING DEEPER...

'Simplicity is clarity, purpose and intentionality.
It is marked by the intentional promotion of the things we most value
​and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.
It is a life lived in unity. And once you find it you’ll never go back.'
Joshua Becker
​

Minimalism as a way of life is a growing modern reaction to our consumerist society. To the uninitiated it often conjures up images of a spartan existence, or alternatively a trendy fad, and is dismissed accordingly. Often a one-size-fits-all approach is put forward which doesn’t take account of our individual lives and requirements.

The Biblical perspective is perhaps better expressed through the idea of simple living, the theme of these recent posts. I was first introduced to the idea of simplicity many years ago, long before it became ‘fashionable’, through a chapter in Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline, now considered a Christian classic; and subsequently explored in depth in Freedom of Simplicity.

You may not agree with all Foster's conclusions, but these books are a thought-provoking deeper exploration of the subject for those who have been 'hooked' by the idea of living more simply, but profoundly. (In addition, the Celebration book has chapters on other spiritual disciplines—an important addition to any Christian library.)
​
They can be purchased from Amazon where I am an affiliate*, by clicking on the covers.

​Anyone read either of these?

THIS WEEK'S RHYTHM OF GRACE

​What steps will you take to slow down this week?

You can read more on the Sabbath principle on the Rhythm of Sabbath page.

NEXT WEEK:
Life is simpler when we obey the Manufacturer’s instructions...

GET IN TOUCH!

​If you have been blessed, inspired or challenged by this post…

• Please get in touch (see top sidebar) or make a comment (below left)
• Please share it with others 

[Photo credits: Logan Weaver (sign); Aaron Burden (lake); Brooke Cagle (girl on tablet);  @ Unsplash, with thanks]