Eliminate Hurry

June 14, 2016
 
                                                   Eliminate Hurry
 
Pastor John Ortberg writes that a spiritual mentor once gave him this sage advice for spiritual growth.  His friend told him “if you want to be spiritually healthy you must eliminate hurry from your life.”  Ortberg goes on to say that he has found his mentor’s words to be true.
 
Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day.  Hurry can destroy our souls.  Hurry can keep us from living well.  As Carl Jung wrote, “Hurry is not of the devil; hurry is the devil.”
 
I've noticed in my own life that when I get in a hurry stress levels increases.  I’m not as kind as I should be.  I’m impatient.  I’m short-tempered.  My wife says I drive aggressively.  Hurry is an enemy of spiritual growth.
 
One of the amazing things about Jesus is that he never seems to be in a hurry.  No matter how demanding his schedule he moves at an unhurried pace.  He has time to bless children.  He has time to heal a woman who touches the hem of his garment.  He stops to eat with a tax collector like Zacheus or to heal a blind man on the Jericho road.
 
In Mark 6 we are told that life for Jesus had become quiet hectic.  Mark 6:31 says, “because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat.
 
Jesus response is not to work harder – instead he says Mark 6-31 “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
 
The truth is if we are too busy to pray ... too busy to spend time with Jesus, then we are just “too busy”.  We need to slow down and as the old gospel song says, “HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS.”
 
If we are going to follow Jesus we need to match our steps with His.  He’s not sprinting to his next appointment, and neither should we.  Take some time to enjoy the journey.  If you want to be spiritually healthy “eliminate hurry from your life.”
 
Have a great slow week!
Pastor Barry