You may remember the song by the Eagles, "Life In The Fast Lane." The lyrics were:
"She pretended not to notice she was caught up in the race.
Out every evenin' until it was light
He was too tired to make it
She was too tired to fight about it
Life in the fast lane Surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane Everything all the time"
During this time of the pandemic I have had a lot of time to think about how I was living in the fast lane! Busy, busy, busy. Stop and drop. I hit the ground running in the morning and crashed in the evening. Life in the fast lane was making me lose my mind. Little time was left to sit and be still. Psalm 46: 10, "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God...'" I thank God that I have been slowed down! I find myself enjoying the quiet time as I sit in my backyard and meditate. Now, I miss my friends and my church but I think I will not go back to my old "normal".
Although I did not see it in the beginning of the pandemic I thank God for the blessings He has brought in my life through this slow down. My daughters were able to both be home and we spent every night at the dinner table together. What a gift! Prior to outdoor church, Mom would come over and we were all able to worship together while watching church online. Psalm 34: 3, "Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together." I became much more mindful of those alone and hurting. Hebrews 10: 24-25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together,as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
I learned I could do without shopping and eating out but I had to be with my friends. Proverbs 18: 24, "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." I learned I miss the touch of others such as hugs or handshakes. 1 Thessalonians 5: 26, "Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss." 2 Corinthians 13: 12, "Greet one another with a holy kiss." 1 Corinthians 16: 20, "All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss." Romans 16: 16, "Greet one another with a holy kiss." I had no idea this was in the Bible at least three times!
The biggest thing I have learned is just how encouraging the Word of God is! I knew it but it came to a new level for me. Through many tough times in my life I have said, I cannot imagine going through that without God in my life. This is definitely how I have felt with this pandemic! I cannot imagine going through this time of uncertainty without God in my life. Having to slow down has definitely been a blessing in my life.
Luke 10: 39-40, "She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'” Sometimes I am so busy - even with good things - that I miss out on hearing the voice of Jesus. Jesus told Martha not to be worried and upset but to focus on the main thing that is important. Instead of trying to do it all, we need to focus on the most important thing, which is Jesus himself.
I think it has almost become a competition in life to see who can be busier. The excuse for not volunteering, visiting relatives, taking care of the elderly, playing with our kids, not taking care of our parents, not going to church, not doing a Bible study, not meditating is that we are too busy. We are too busy with work, school, sports, etc. We are too busy. I love what Mother Teresa said. "Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day." Let's pull over in the right lane and refocus on what is important! Caution - it is time to slow down!
Comentarios