Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Do you ever get in a hurry? I sure do. Sometimes I have to hurry because of circumstances that are beyond my control, but I have recently discovered that most of my hurrying is my own fault.
I often speed while driving and I’m not so sure why. I honestly think that if I were scheduled to have my head chopped off, I would speed to my own beheading, just so I could die happy that I “made good time.” You’re probably laughing at me right now for saying that, but you know you do it too, don’t you? I mean, really…as soon as that traffic light turns green, we all floor it so we can be the first to make it to the next red light. Yippee…first in line.
This morning, I learned an interesting lesson about hurrying. I had just dropped off my children at school and I needed to fill my gas tank so, after checking the clock to make sure I had enough time, I pulled into a gas station. As I was pumping my gas (Gotta love that “pay at the pump” option…yet another way to hurry up!), I noticed the incredible amount of pollen that has built up on my car over the past few weeks. Once again glancing at my watch, I decided that I had enough time for a quick run through the car wash, as long as it was QUICK.
I chose the “carwash” option (once again, at the pump), grabbed my receipt, and pulled the car around to the car wash as quickly as I could. I punched in the code, pulled on in, and before long had a nice, shiny car. A quick glance at the clock: 20 minutes to get to work…plenty of time, if I hurry.
As I was driving down the Eastern Bypass (dumb name…it doesn’t “bypass” anything), I noticed a disturbing sound coming from my passenger-side rear fender. It was sort of a “clank, clank” sound. "Uh-oh. This can’t be good. I wonder what it could be?" I finally decided that I needed to pull over and take a look.
It was my radio antenna.
Guess who forgot to put the antenna down because he was in such a blasted hurry? That’s right…the igmo that’s writing this post. As a result, I ended up having to pull what was left of the antenna off the car, which got black grease all over my hands and my shirt. I then had to stop by my house to wash my hands and change shirts, then head on to work about 20 minutes late.
So what was it that messed everything up for me this morning? Was it the fact that I stopped for gas? Nope. I needed gas. Was it the car wash? Maybe, but not likely, since a quick glance at my watch told me I had plenty of time.
I screwed up this morning because I was in too much of a hurry to take notice of what needed to be done. And now I have a hole in my car to remind me of it.
Funny…this reminds me of something Jesus said:
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34)
Through this ordeal this morning, I discovered something about myself: I worry and hurry way too much. I don’t just hurry through traffic, but I find myself hurrying through life as well. I spend a lot more time looking at the clock than looking at the details.
It’s time for me to change. Maybe you’re going through this same kind of struggle. If so, let’s make this change together! Let’s take the time to slow down, or even stop if we have to! Let’s spend some time reading God’s Word! Let’s take the time to pray! Let’s make the decision to quit worrying and hurrying so much that we miss out on what’s important! Will you do that with me?
Well, that’s about all I have to say. This was kind of a lengthy post. I sure hope reading it didn’t take up too much of your time (wink, wink!).
May God Bless You Today!
--Eric G.
I often speed while driving and I’m not so sure why. I honestly think that if I were scheduled to have my head chopped off, I would speed to my own beheading, just so I could die happy that I “made good time.” You’re probably laughing at me right now for saying that, but you know you do it too, don’t you? I mean, really…as soon as that traffic light turns green, we all floor it so we can be the first to make it to the next red light. Yippee…first in line.
This morning, I learned an interesting lesson about hurrying. I had just dropped off my children at school and I needed to fill my gas tank so, after checking the clock to make sure I had enough time, I pulled into a gas station. As I was pumping my gas (Gotta love that “pay at the pump” option…yet another way to hurry up!), I noticed the incredible amount of pollen that has built up on my car over the past few weeks. Once again glancing at my watch, I decided that I had enough time for a quick run through the car wash, as long as it was QUICK.
I chose the “carwash” option (once again, at the pump), grabbed my receipt, and pulled the car around to the car wash as quickly as I could. I punched in the code, pulled on in, and before long had a nice, shiny car. A quick glance at the clock: 20 minutes to get to work…plenty of time, if I hurry.
As I was driving down the Eastern Bypass (dumb name…it doesn’t “bypass” anything), I noticed a disturbing sound coming from my passenger-side rear fender. It was sort of a “clank, clank” sound. "Uh-oh. This can’t be good. I wonder what it could be?" I finally decided that I needed to pull over and take a look.
It was my radio antenna.
Guess who forgot to put the antenna down because he was in such a blasted hurry? That’s right…the igmo that’s writing this post. As a result, I ended up having to pull what was left of the antenna off the car, which got black grease all over my hands and my shirt. I then had to stop by my house to wash my hands and change shirts, then head on to work about 20 minutes late.
So what was it that messed everything up for me this morning? Was it the fact that I stopped for gas? Nope. I needed gas. Was it the car wash? Maybe, but not likely, since a quick glance at my watch told me I had plenty of time.
I screwed up this morning because I was in too much of a hurry to take notice of what needed to be done. And now I have a hole in my car to remind me of it.
Funny…this reminds me of something Jesus said:
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31-34)
Through this ordeal this morning, I discovered something about myself: I worry and hurry way too much. I don’t just hurry through traffic, but I find myself hurrying through life as well. I spend a lot more time looking at the clock than looking at the details.
It’s time for me to change. Maybe you’re going through this same kind of struggle. If so, let’s make this change together! Let’s take the time to slow down, or even stop if we have to! Let’s spend some time reading God’s Word! Let’s take the time to pray! Let’s make the decision to quit worrying and hurrying so much that we miss out on what’s important! Will you do that with me?
Well, that’s about all I have to say. This was kind of a lengthy post. I sure hope reading it didn’t take up too much of your time (wink, wink!).
May God Bless You Today!
--Eric G.
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