Slow Me Down, Lord

By Ann Marie Eckert

A few things have changed for me over the past year-important, life-giving things. For instance:

  • Last week I took my first pottery class. It was wonderful — creative, messy, and fun.
  • I have a regular "cards night" scheduled with friends, full of good conversations and hilarious moments.
  • Every four weeks a cleaning service comes into my house to do the cleaning I never found time to do.

Why do I mention these things? Simple. They have helped me put my life into balance. Last year I found myself burned out, overwhelmed, and running on empty. I realized that I needed to slow things down. Work always took as many hours as I was willing to give it so I decided not to let it run my life anymore. I was making some bad decisions and I decided to make better ones.

Although the cleaning service initially seemed like a luxury, I now realize how much it helps to open up some of the hours of my week to other things. Booking time in my calendar for cards has helped me to make sure that not too much time passes before I see my friends. And taking the pottery class is something that I have wanted to do for years, but never did because I was "too busy."

I am not too busy anymore — not too busy for friends and family, not too busy for creative endeavors, not too busy for God.

Slowing down has been really important for me. Ronald Rolheiser, in his book The Holy Longing, tells us that "mellowness of heart" is one of the four pillars of Christian spirituality. Rolheiser asserts that in order to be Christian we have to do things that bring us joy. He describes it this way: "To have a healthy spirituality, we must feed our souls in three ways; through prayer, ...through the practice of justice, and through having those things in our lives that keep the soul mellow and grateful" (pg. 67). It was hard to be mellow and grateful when I was going 100 miles per hour. Slowing down has made it possible.

Chris Muglia has a beautiful song called Slow Me Down. In it, he sings:

Father won't you help me live these simple words:
Slow me down, so I can see the beauty of each day you give to me.
Slow me down, so I don't miss the joy of living for the simple things.

In today's exceedingly busy world, it is a major challenge to slow down. I still have much to learn, but I know I'm on the right track. Care to join me in slowing down? What is one thing that you can eliminate to make room for something more life-giving?

Prayer can help you slow down. Take a few minutes to simply sit quietly. If you are comfortable, use this mantra: "God of all time, slow me down."

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Spirit Compass reflections are developed in partnership
with the Center for Ministry Development.