I have been in a hurry most of my life; even when I didn’t need
to rush, even when I was not aware that I was in a hurry. I never learned to crawl as a baby. I started walking at 6 months. I never knew how to stroll. I would try but a brisk walk rapidly
evolved. It has been my unconscious pace
for most of my days. I have been called ‘driven’,
whatever that means, even though I always thought of myself as a person who
sought to be void of personal ambition according to the teachings of
Jesus. However, my DNA seems to make it
hard for me to sit and relax (more on that in a moment). I tried meditation, which was a joke. As I began trying to focus on emptying my mind
I nearly passed out from trying to decide what the best mantra was. I have all the initials; OCD, ADDHD,
ETC. My brain is obsessively and
hyperactively churning. It may not
always be productive thought but there are usually so many thoughts and
opinions bouncing around in my fat head that I am shocked that I have not
invented something wonderful to change the world. Hmm, let me think about that a little
longer.
I also tried golf as an activity to relax. They say that golf reveals the soul. I enjoyed the outdoor activity but I found
myself growing impatient as playing partners too so long to contemplate hitting
the next shot. When I said, “Guys, I think you can miss them a lot quicker.”
it did not make me a popular playing partner.
My wakeup call came when one of my best friends said, “OK, what other fun do you want to hurry up
and get finished with today?” I realized that I was rushing through the
round to see what score I would get rather than taking time to enjoy the
game. That translated into a revelation
that I was rushing through life rather than enjoying the journey.
As I pondered this condition and his statement I recall
memories of my mother never sitting long.
She would always find something to clean, arrange or check on whether it
needed it or not. I once tried to talk
to her about slowing down and relaxing to which she tearfully replied, “I don’t know how!” My golf buddy’s quote reminded me of one
Thanksgiving when we were still sitting around the living room trying to digest
the feast mother worked so hard to prepare when she asked, “What do you want for supper?” I grew up in Mississippi; we ate breakfast,
dinner and supper. I said, “Mother sit down we are still stuffed from
lunch!” She replied, “Well, I want to
go ahead and get supper over with!” And there it was, the same behavior my
golfing buddy hit me with right between the eyes! I needed an attitude adjustment or I was
going to rush through life and miss the joy of the journey.
Every action of Jesus had intention and purpose; therefore it
is not coincidence that Jesus was born in a time and culture that still goes at
a pace that drives Americans crazy. They
say, “You have a watch but I have time!”
Jesus speaks to the results of a breakneck philosophy of life that wears us out
rather than initiates joy in Matthew 11:28-30.
This was a passage I had memorized early in my life but the reading from
the Message opened a new insight as it said; “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned
out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how
I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or
ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and
lightly.”
The unforced rhythms of grace seemed to leap off the page at
me. I have been living my life much like
my golf game, hurrying to see what score I could achieve, when I needed to
enjoy the round and let the score take care of itself. The unforced rhythms of grace was
the central teaching of Jesus letting me (us) know that our faith (a life of
keeping company with Him) is the way to live freely and lightly. The walk with Jesus is not one where we need
to ‘achieve to receive’ or earn His joy and love. Read the passage again, slowly letting each
word and teaching soak deeply into your soul and see what He says to you as you
slow down, walk with Him, watch then learn as you enjoy the journey:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away
with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of
grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me
and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
