Faith, Folklore, and Friends

Slowing Down I used to hurry, taking no time for things I encountered along the way. Now, I amble, turtle-like, stopping, embracing, breathing in every ray of sunlight, healing yellow warm. I used to rush, never looking around, but now, I stop, savor every flower, every leaf, every tiny treasure found. I used to charge into the chaotic crowd, not caring where they were bound, as long as they would accept me as a part of their madness. Now, I can see the wrong of wasted time when I used to obsess about not measuring up, and changing me to fit into their preceived perfection. I’m so over that. Now, I’ll just be Happy to breathe in, breathe out, hearing the birds, the babies, the silence. Taking nothing for granted, there are no guarantees. I’m loving it, this life that I’m making.

Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and  in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace  for anything whatsoever, even if your whole  world seems upset. ~ Saint Francis de Sales

  A few days ago, Hub and I were coming home from a music festival, facing the sunset all the way.  It changed a little every second, and recreated itself every few minutes.  It was such a display that no words were needed; we just watched in awe until the sky was dark. I have been around the sun more than sixty times, and it has been a good ride.  I know there are more sunsets in my past than there are in my future.  I'm not angry about that.  It is the cycle of life in an orderly universe, and we all have limitations.   What I am angry about is the sunsets I've missed because I wasn't paying attention, when little and unimportant things occupied my time, because I knew I could watch it tomorrow or the next day. The foolish, youthful woman that I was thought there would always be more sunsets, and the ones I missed are gone forever. And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such ...

We have become a society of busyness. Somewhere along the way, we have become frightfully confused, our eyes scaled by life's noise.   We are worn out trying to please our families, our bosses,  our leaders, our community. All of us have work to do, tasks given according to our abilities. It should be done with enthusiasm, with joy and thankfulness. We are NOT required to do what God has assigned to others. Would the mountains fall if you turned your cell phone off long enough to pay attention to what is going on around you? Would the world stop spinning if you took a few minutes to sit alone, and just listen? Would the course of human events be forever altered if you said, "No, thank you very much, I won't be able to..."? I hope you can take some time this weekend to slow down and be still. It can change how you will face the busyness on Monday morning.

Slowing Down by Wanda Stricklin Robertson I used to hurry, taking no time for things I encountered along the way.  Now, I amble, turtle-like, stopping, embracing, soaking in every ray of sunlight, healing energy warm. I used to rush, never looking around, but now, lingering, I savor existence, every tiny treasure found. I used to charge into the chaotic crowd, not caring where they were bound, as long as they would accept me as part of their madness.  At last, I see the wrong of wasted time when I used to obsess about not measuring up, and changing me to fit into their perceived perfection. I'm so over that.  Today, I'll just be happy to breathe in, breathe out, hearing the birds, the babies, the silence. Taking nothing for granted, listening, leaning; I'm loving it, this life I'm making.