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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 6, NUMBER 38, SEPTEMBER 24, 2006 LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
We have pushed the “fast forward” button in life. We live in a world that’s running as fast as it can—and we’re not satisfied with that. There are only two speeds in life today: fast, and flat out. Why do we run red lights? Why do we speed down the highways? I have said for some time that red lights in the town where I live are not laws, they are merely suggestions. They actually get in people’s way. It’s the same with speed limits. You can get run over driving the speed limit. Ever notice how irritable people are who stand in line at the bank, the grocery store, or the dry cleaners? They’re all in a hurry. We have fast food, instant oats, waffles that are already cooked, and microwave popcorn. Computers have to run faster and faster. Our clothes are wash-and-wear, our cars are measured more by how fast they can get us there than by the comfort they afford. We hurry, we rush, we run. We’re busy, busy, busy. It makes you tired just to watch it all. Do you know anybody who is not in a hurry? It’s fine to be active, fine to be involved, fine to work hard and play enthusiastically, but I think we’re just too busy. When you’re too busy to help with important things, you’re too busy. Jesus said that His disciples should seek the kingdom first (Matthew 6:33 ). What does that mean? It means that the list of priorities in headed by seeking His rule in your life, that’s what it means. It means that no matter how fast you’re going, you’d better slow down enough to make sure you’re going in the right direction and spending your time doing the right things. It means that you should make sure your heart is right before you go running around life (Proverbs 3:27). If your physical activities are running into your spiritual ones, it’s time to stop—yes, I said stop—long enough to re-examine where you’re going and why. When you’re so busy that thoughts about God are crowded out of your life, you’re too busy. Meditation is a vital part of your connection to God and eternity. Meditation takes time. Time to compare your life with the one He recommends, time to distinguish between the spiritual and the carnal, time to introspect and determine your real motives for what you do. David’s blessed man is one whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law doth he meditate both day and night” (Psalm 1:2). Paul admonishes that we take time to think on praiseworthy things—things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, of good report—and that takes considerable time (Philippians 4:8). Time management is necessary if we are to keep in touch with God. We’d best make sure that we take the time to give Him what is rightfully His. When you’re too busy to listen to those who love you, you’re too busy. Listening takes time. Sometimes we get so caught up in the pace of life, we don’t have time to listen—even to those who love us most. How long since you had a real conversation with your mate—one where you unhurriedly talked about how things are between the two of you and where you’re both headed in your life, and how it is that you’re going to get done what is really important in your life? One where you not only listened, but actually heard what was being said. How long has it been since you sat on the deck or porch and just had a lively conversation with one of your kids—a conversation where you talked about nothing in particular, but just went where the moment took it? How long? This stuff takes time, but it’s so important that we give some time to the simple, that we regard the little things, that we consider the small matters, because when you add them all together, they’re what makes life worth living. Time is the stuff life is made of. We should use time carefully and manage it wisely, because it won’t be long before we’ll be out of it.
Dee Bowman I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT I COULD:
1. Try a little harder 2. Speak a little less 3. Listen a little more 4. Give a little more 5. Learn a little more 6. Be a little better
How about you?
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