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It is time to Slow Down!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
I came across an interesting quote from a book written by John Eldredge called
“Journey of Desire – Journal and Guide” which reads like this:
I think C.H. Spurgeon had this in mind when he warned that a pilgrim will be better served “by one book thoroughly mastered than by twenty books he has merely skimmed. Little learning and much pride comes of hasty reading.” (Introduction pg. xxiii)
Books by John Eldredge
What a provoking thought.
A thought which requires me to slow down…stop…and put some meditative thought to its import.
Especially, particularly in this fast paced, quickly consumed world we live in.
Everything is fast , from sleeping to eating to living.
We move from one event, one activity to another,
either trying to keep up, getting it done – or – staying ahead of others, beating them to the punch, competition.
But, sadly the results truly is devastating to the soul.
Books, Books, Books...
Nothing is absorbed this way.
Nothing is taken in to the deeper reaches of our hearts.
Consequently – 2 weeks after we have either
experienced the event
read the book
looked out over the vista; we barely remember what we did, read or saw!
Too many people live for the right now, only thinking of the future as something to conquer.
Our journeys are fast;
our holidays are stressed with activity;
our vacations moving from one tourist site to the next,
so that in the end it becomes one big blur instead of a beautiful crafted photograph.
The individual colors become muddied to an indistinguishable brown/black
instead of memorable, vibrant, distinguishable intensity of color.
Life was meant to be taken slow, tasted, chewed, and enjoyed.
Life was meant to be seen and smelled.
Life was meant to be delightfully experienced with all of our senses.
Senses not dulled by overexposure and tiredness.
But made a alive with an absorbed sense of God's creativity,
God's grace, and God's joy!
Slow Down!
Comments
Thanks UlrikeGrace for the reminder of the importance of slowing our pace to commune with God and meditate on deeper realities. Of course, age has slowed me down considerably (smile).
Love peace and joy in Him.
Forever His,
Oh i love your words, your heart. Love you.
Thanx for the reminder chickie! xox
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Wow! RevLady..that was FAST!!!! Yes age does slow us down...I can absolutely commiserate! I appreciated the Lord bringing this to my attention as we slowly grind towards one of the busiest times of the year for most people...the Christmas Holiday season...I am hoping having written this I too will remember to slow down and celebrate God...not just the season...Love to you my dear friend...Ulrike Grace
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Bless you Magdalene...I am so glad you enjoyed it...some of the graphics I just couldn't and didn't want to resist....have a great fall...and remember slow down see the yellow and the red's in between the greens....love this time of year...Love you
blessings Ulrike Grace
up & beautiful! I agree, what's the old saying-- 'slow down and smell the roses'...
If I go any slower, I will be comatose, but thanks for the reminder to soak in every detail of the moment and forget 'what's next.' Lynda
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Thank you Samson1 for your lovely comments and reccomendations...yes, I remember that saying... now I just need to actually do it...life has been faster paced than I would like it to be...thanks for reading...bless you
Immartin...you are too funny...yes, not only do we have slow down as you say but now actually be aware of where we are at ... enjoy it and resist the temptation to always be looking forward to the next thing! Blessings to you
Yes, I agree but how do we slow down when "life" itself is so busy? Those beautiful quiet moments are way to few and far between right now. I always find myself looking forward to the future when there will be a chance to slow down, but that always seems to be a mirage.
I'm doing just that(slowing down) since I recently retired. I can't tell you the difference it has made in my inner peace!
Life is a blurring daily collage of activities for the most of us. We have to re-learn how to slow down to appreciate it before it passes us by and we miss out on the important things like a fall afternoon walk in the woods to observe the changing colours of the leaves or the changing coats or plumage of the various animals and birds.
Brother Dave.
Thanks for the reminder Grace to "wake up and smell the flowers". I have had a super busy week this week too and I'm getting worn out. I am looking forward to the weekend and hope to have some "writing time".
Learning to slow is hard after the pace we or the world sets in motion for us. At the end of the day it is wee whom need to take the steps to slow as slow comes only through our action.
Great read and well put together... good advice as always.
Blessings and Hugs from the road
OK I could have stopped at the Spugeon Quote - enough said..it sunk, but I am glad I read on. Pictures, prose and all was a beautiful reminder of God's intent for us to take in the beauty s-l-o-w-l-y
love you, friend
Thankyou Ulrike Grace for this reminder. It is in the still quiet place where I have most consistantly heard clearly the voice of God through the Holy Spirit. The quiet places are the places of relationship building, not only with God but also in our relationship with people throughout life. It is very true that where we spend our time makes a statement of who or what we love the most. God will not accept our worship where He is in second place, so if God is calling us to slow down so that we may enter into and grow in our relationship with Him, what greater motivation could we possibly need?
Blessings to you Ulrike Grace: Keep up the good work.
rls
Beautiful, loved it. I remember a saying, "I'm writing this letter to you slowly, since I know you don't read very fast"! Great stuff UG. Remember these lyrics, "Slow down, you're moving too fast, got to make the morning last now... ". To live this way of slowing our pace is not only healthy, but much more enjoyable. My wife and I use this phrase, "Chillaxin", Blessings, St.L
Great writing and thoughts. Much needed in these shallow times. Thank you
Hi, I have often tried to slow down, and when I go out I always want to take in the trees and birds etc, I make myself! but it doesn't always work! lol but I will definitely try, lovely hub, cheers nell
I've been following you for awhile but I think this might be the first time I slowed down enough to post! Lol!! My father passed away when I was 13, but before he passed away he gave me a wonderful gift. He encouraged me to savor each day and each moment, to look for those little delights that Father tucks into every day for us to find. Your pictures were wonderful, definite delight for the eyes. Thanks for the precious reminder!
Ulrike Grace - A beautiful hub. My favorite time is just being in the moment,being mindful, and being open, experiencing life as it unfolds from one moment to the next.
You did an awesome job on this hub. Voted up!
Sage
Great to slow down, just did it myself a few weeks ago...it was good for my soul:) Just found a video that also shows about the pace of this world. Guess on the same wave...love your pictures, they look awesome!
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Thorine, thank you for stopping in reading and commenting on this hub...and Yes, I agree "life" seems to be very busy...However, I am a firm believer that God knows our lives and if we are careful to be alert to the beautiful quiet moments we can find many such treasures in a day. Enjoying the "moment" can be a tremendous gift from the Father for us...if we take the moment as a gift. Watching a loved child compete at something. Appreciating the family we have around the table. Enjoying the gift of providing whatever task we are about to do for the family. All these things count for enjoying our journey as we continue to live. And then sometimes we are given a treasure of just time to view and be. It is all worthy of our notice and it all starts just where we are. Instead of running to just pick up our coffee maybe we need to stop and just smell the coffee, take a deep breath and be grateful with joy and love for that moment of peace. Just a few thoughts...Blessings to you, Love Ulrike Grace
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bayoulady...thanks for your comments and I am so glad you have taken the opportunity to slow down. Godly inner peace is so important. Blessings UlrikeGrace
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@Dave Mathews...Oh Amen brother Dave I do so agree with you. :)...Thank you for stopping in and sharing your heart. Blessings to you...Ulrike Grace
@Kristeen...You are so welcome...and I hope you got your slow down time to just enjoy the Lord, He is so good...and your "writing time." Bless you my girl...Ulrike Grace
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Quill! Thank you brother for stopping and having a read, your comments are always so appreciated. I have learned so much from "your story" and your hubs the gift and precious treasure that slowing down and appreciating the quiet is. And I thank you so much for that, the sharing of your heart that you give so freely. Love your sis...Ulrike Grace
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Oh Coffeesnob...the Lord in you is a beauty itself to be taken in slowly...thank you so much for stopping and having a quiet read...breathing is good...and Father has given us so much to appreciate! Love you and blessings to you...Ulrike Grace
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heart4theword ...I am glad God has madae a way for you to slow down and enjoy what He has surrounded you with, His heaurt and love. We can always find something to do...but the need to sit at His feet and enjoy life with Him is so important...bless you for hearing His call...Love Ulrike Grace
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coffeesnob!!! How I wish we could slow down together and sit and enjoy a good cup of coffee!!! I love how you articulated the s-l-o-w-l-y...beauty was not meant to be seen in a rush...love was not meant to be experienced in a rush...we do need to slow down and enjoy our environment, each other and our Savior...Love you girl and thanks for giving this a read...Ulrike Grace
Ulrike you are so right about slow down, I wonder what would happen if we all slowed down to a pace where we do enjoy all that God has given to us to enjoy, not just rushing by as many are doing, when in London I go to the church of Charles Spurgeon I have some of his books, wonderful reading.
God loves you
Ramon xo
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Thank you Raymond for stopping in and having a read...I too so enjoy (if that is s right word for Spurgeons sermon and books) Spurgeon, they always inspire me to deeper livoing and thinking in the Lord...Bless you brother
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