How often in a day do you say “Hurry up!” That phrase pops into my head way more than I care to admit.

I am most likely to say, “Come on! Hurry up!” when I am driving. No one drives quite as well as I do…said everyone! So it seems I am in a hurry when I drive. Is that because I left late or because I can’t enjoy the present moment of being in the car? Hmmm.

Katlyn, my youngest daughter, and I flew to Florida on Friday for the weekend. I love her like everything, but she moves at a sloth’s pace. She is fastidious about keeping her possessions with her and organized. That takes more time than you might imagine. She double checks when she leaves the car or house or restaurant or wherever we are to be certain doors are locked, windows are up, possessions are claimed. Time consuming! I want to say, “Hurry!”

She doesn’t seem to be in a particular rush when we are walking somewhere, like from the car to the beach. She strolls. From the beach to the car – she strolls. I want to say, “Hurry!”

Her get-ready routine is painstakingly slow. Hair drying and styling, make-up application, choosing an outfit – all in slow gear. I want to say, “Hurry!”

On Saturday we made a stop at a fabric/sewing shop that I frequent in Florida. As luck would have it, I found some things to buy. We planned how much time we could spend at the shop but unbeknownst to Katlyn, there was plenty of cushion in our schedule. As the agreed upon departure time crept closer, she got a bit antsy. She wanted to say, “Hurry!”

But Donna, the sales clerk, was in no hurry. She was thorough and helpful. You know, the kind who stops to meet your gaze when you ask a question. She didn’t appear to value the efficiency of multi-tasking. I know this about her and deeply appreciate Donna as a person, so I wasn’t flustered by it. Katlyn was. We needed to hurry Donna along. (I do offer a pat on the back to Katlyn at this point because she willingly slowed herself down to appreciate Donna’s thorough approach to cashiering.)

So for the last three days, I have bit my tongue. I may have said, “Hurry!” once or twice, but for the most part I told myself to take a breath. I slowed my steps. I sat down, I waited, I rested.

It seems I want others to drive at my pace, walk at my pace, live at my pace. And when I am hurried, others need to be hurried as well. When I am strolling, others may also stroll.

As I lay in bed today, in that state of semi-consciousness between deep sleep and awake, I experienced a sense of urgency. I felt more than heard the words “hurry, hurry, hurry!” It took me a few minutes of listening to understand who needed to hurry.

My body, mind and soul seemed to be crying out to God to hurry. Hurry and answer my prayers for my children, for my friends, for me. WHY IS THIS TAKING SO LONG??? Can’t you hurry? Can’t they hurry? Do you delight in making me wait? Do you enjoy the stroll?

I heard these words as I lay there,

But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. He is being patient for your sake…

2 Peter 3:8-9

So I am challenged to slow down and enjoy and trust. Trust that God has it all in his hands. Enjoy the present moment because it only comes by once. Slow down so I can experience all of the day. Has anyone ever said, “I wish I had hurried more?”

Are you in a hurry? How can you slow down today to better enjoy this present moment? Even the most painful moments of life can be savored for what they teach us.

Today my friend, Lena, passed from this life into the next. In this painful moment, I want to savor what she taught me. I reflect on her kindness and resilience. I celebrate her life. So even in sadness, I enjoy this moment of remembering.

We have all the time we need. What can this moment teach you?

Until next time…

May the Lord bless you and protect you.

May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.

Numbers 6:24-26