The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Part three: Practices for unhurrying your life
Slowing (4|4)
Pages 239-244
Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hosea 10:12 (NIV) Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
The last four rules (again, call them boundaries if that makes you feel better about them) are a challenge to take something up, put it into place/practice, and create a habit and/or rhythm.
17. Take up journaling.
18. Experiment with mindfulness and meditation.
19. If you can, take long vacations.
20. Cook your own food. And eat in.
We can combat hurry by intentionally slowing down. Mindfulness and meditation practices are very effective. The practice of “watching” your breath go in and out is not some new age yoga hippy dippy crystal licking garbage. It is centering on the gifts of the Spirit. Try practicing it now:
Get into a comfortable position. Normally, you would close your eyes, but if you did that now, you wouldn’t be able to read and follow along ;)
Imagine yourself breathing IN the fruit Holy Spirit and breathing OUT their opposite.
Breathe in love, breathe out the anger…
Breathe in joy, breathe out the sadness and pain…
Breathe in peace, breathe out the anxiety and uncertainty of tomorrow…
Breathe in patience, breathe out the hurry of life…
How did that go for you?
Was it awkward and uncomfortable, or helpful or meh?
Try it again and really take your time with it. If it still feels weird or foreign, that is okay. It’s not for everyone, but it can be helpful for many.
John Mark Comer says In meditation of the Hebrew/Jesus variety (Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV) Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers. you don’t just empty your mind (of the noise, chaos, anxiety, etc.), but you fill your mind with Scripture, with truth, with the voice of the Holy Spirit.
What is your response to this statement?
Is it hard to get past the images of secular meditation? Do you think of yoga instructors and Hinduism when you think of meditation? If so, think about this: All the way back in Joshua 1:8 (NIV) Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. That’s a long time before the secularized version we have today. I think it’s time to reclaim words whose definitions the secular world has hijacked, don’t you?
What does meditating on the scriptures look like for you?
What does meditating on the Truth look like for you?