Guest post by my dear friend Heidi McLaughlin
We have become obsessed with “time.” Our days are crammed into iPhone scheduled increments and still at the end of the day it feels like we have not accomplished enough. Oh how we love it when we’re rushing and someone taps us on the shoulder and says, “It’s OK, take your time.” Instantly our breathing changes, our heartbeat calms down and our face has the time to erupt into a smile.
We need to hear “take your time” more often. We live in perilous times where we pride ourselves on how much we can pack into one day. Taking our sweet time about anything is simply not an option. It might even be considered laziness.
Little children teach us to savour the moments. They love to take their time playing with Legos or sitting and listening to stories. We are the ones who teach them to hurry. I can still hear myself, “Get your coat on we’re going to be late.” “ Quit fooling around, you need to eat your lunch so we can get out of here.” I wonder if subconsciously we learned that it’s bad or wasteful to take our time.
Our relentless pursuits to find fulfillment and success cause us to become weary, overwhelmed and sometimes cynical. I don’t think we were designed to hurry our way through life. Jesus modeled simplicity. “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.” (Matthew 11:28-29 MSG)
I confess I am also a card-carrying member of the rat race of blogging, tweeting, posting articles, Facebook memes, Instagram, Pinterest and on and on. But with all that we’re trying to accomplish I would like to suggest that we pause and “take the time” to learn from Jesus and enjoy the journey. We are to throw off all those things that are “ill fitting” and focus on the things that will bring us joy on our pathway to success. So I have to ask myself, “What do I need to take the time to throw off so that I can live freely and lightly?”
We all need a friend to put an arm around our shoulder and remind us to “take your time.” Or maybe it’s your turn to remind your spouse or friend they can learn from Jesus how to live freely and lightly. Jesus never hurried. He took time to interact with people and model the Father’s love. He focused on His purpose. He changed the world. What can you and I learn from Jesus that will help us to stop hurrying, “take the time” and enjoy this privileged season in our life?
Heidi McLaughlin lives in the beautiful vineyards of the Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia. She is married to Pastor Jack and they have a wonderful, eclectic blended family of 5 children and 9 grandchildren. When Heidi is not working, she loves to curl up with a great book, or golf and laugh with her husband and special friends.
You can download a FREE accompanying Study Guide when you purchase Heidi’s latest book RESTLESS FOR MORE: Fulfillment in Unexpected Places.
Her new book, Restless for More, can be purchased on her website: heartconnection.ca. You can also find the book on Goodreads and Amazon.