Can we start a “How to Live an Unhurried Life” support group?
I’d be the first to sign up. You see, I’m not writing this post from an “I got this!” point of view. I simply want to learn how to squash the word “hurry” from my life and replace it with “holy”.
After all, our greatest example in living an unhurried but holy life is Jesus. Just ask Martha and Mary.
Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary, and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” (John 11:1-7)
“So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.”
By the time Jesus arrived, John tells us that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. We all know how this story ends. But where does our story begin as we think about Jesus’ view of priorities, time, and schedule?
Yes, Jesus is God but the Holy Spirit resides within us, equipping us to choose an unhurried life.
Around our house, summertime is by far the most hurried. For Brian, there’s mowing almost four acres, keeping the pool from becoming an acid pit, and trimming shrubs that block swimmer’s views of the mountains. My summer pool hurry is more about shuffling around like crazy at the last minute trying to shove books, papers, a rogue power cord that stretches across the room, and anything else that our two and three-year-old grandchildren might find interesting, into a nearby bedroom. I know it’s not pretty, but it’s real.
Feeling the constant tug of hurry this summer, I put some practical grace-paced “to-do’s” into place that will last long after the final swim:
- On Sunday nights, I take a few minutes to jot down meal ideas for the week, along with the needed ingredients. This helps to eliminate questions about dinner plans and the hurried feeling that ensues.
- Also on Sunday nights, I look at my calendar and choose 2-3 top priorities for the week. I try to keep them in order: God, family, church, and ministry. No doubt, I sometimes fall flat, but I try to be intentional about it. Intentionality offers focus, which for me, offers peace in knowing I don’t have to accomplish it all (as if I could!).
- No writing or creating on Sundays, giving the soul, body, and mind a rest.
- Before bed, I make sure the square frying pan is readied for eggs and the tiny measuring cup is washed and prepped for coffee creamer. To most, it’s called a routine. To me it’s a gift, knowing the next morning starts with a clean slate, no pun intended.
- I pray to remain open to His plans and “interruptions” for the day. I’m prone to zero in on a project and not raise my head for hours at a time. Trusting He will provide when plans change helps to eliminate the feeling of hurry or anxiousness.
Simple, right? Some of our most life-giving moments begin with small, doable steps.
Consider small steps you might put into place this week to help lessen the hurry as you move through your days with purpose and joy.
To help give you a boost, check out some of my favorite quotes from Alan Fadling’s, “An Unhurried Life…Following Jesus’ Rhythms of Work and Rest”:
- “Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart.”
- “I feel hurried inside even when nothing actually urgent is on my schedule. Hurry has become a habit: I find myself stuck in emergency mode.”
- “I realize that an unhurried life is not a lazy life. In fact, it can be the exact opposite. Jesus was unhurried, but he was not lazy He was engaged, hardworking, purposeful, and conscientious.”
- “I’m aware that God’s great commandment to us isn’t ‘Get more things done,’ but to love him with the whole of our energies, capacities, and passions to extend that love to others. And love isn’t rushed.”
- “God is never in a hurry.”
- “Being unhurried does not mean being unresponsive to divine nudges. Being unhurried enables us to notice those nudges and to respond.”
- “I don’t think I’ll find my deepest joy in the number of people who liked something I said or did. I’m coming to believe that my greatest joy will be being part of an extended community of men and women with whom I’ve shared a journey with Jesus, living out his life in our families, our neighborhoods, our workplaces and schools, and the church communities where God has planted us.”
- “Despite Jesus’ example, I find it a continual temptation to do things that will get a lot of people excited about what I’m doing⎯and get them excited now!”
- “Do our conversations about ministry revolve around growing numbers of participants, successful programs, or other easily measured outcomes? Or do we tell stories about particular people who are responding to Jesus, stories of seeds of gospel truth sown in people’s hearts that will grow into the fruit of Christlikeness?”
- Told to John Ortberg during a transition in his ministry life: “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”
Now that’s a lot of unhurried goodness. How are you eliminating hurry from your life? Do tell!
Want to keep the quotes handy? Here you go!
Being the guy who makes plans to make a plan, the hurriedness of spring, summer, and fall (at least that’s what happens around here) can sometimes overwhelm me. I’m learning though that each day will take care of itself and the best I can hope for is to accomplish 75 percent of what I set out to do each day on my “To Do” list. While not everything gets “To Done”, what remains moves to the next day. With the exception of Sunday, I think every day has some planning aspect to it. One thing that helps me is priority scoring. It really makes me stop and consider the “must do’s” and the “want to’s” carefully. Loved this post ma’am; thank you! Have a fun pool party!
Same here! I’m all about a plan, JD. I like your reminder that “each day will take care of itself” because in many ways, that’s true. And your priority “scoring”. Sounds mighty wise to me, brother. Thank you for taking the time to share. Blessings!
Great post, Cathy, and so needed. I like how you said, “Some of our most life-giving moments begin with small, doable steps.” Yes! And this quote from Alan, “Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart.” Yes!
That’s one of my favorite quotes from the book too. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by, Karen. Blessings!
What a refreshing post. Just reading it slowed my heart rate. The quotes are great!
The irony is we’re much more productive when we’re unhurried. Haste really does make waste.
Thank you!
It’s true, Candyce! Great point. We are more productive when not hurried. Thanks for taking the time to stop by!
Excellent. I love the quote that Jesus was not hurried. It changes your viewpoint, or compass point. Great post, Cathy. Thanks!
The same truth changed mine as well. Thank you for sharing!
I recently started using a bullet journal. It’s actually helped me focus and prioritize. I also cleaned out clutter from my living room, so as I sit at night, I don’t feel the need to be busy. Your post has wonderful reminders of why we need to rest. <3
I love these ideas, Molly Jo! Simple steps forward make all the difference. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Love this quote: “Hurry is not just a disordered schedule. Hurry is a disordered heart.” Along with planning, I’ve learned spending my morning with God helps the day’s schedule and my whole being. It wasn’t easy yo accomplish when my children were small and we homeschooled. But now with the house quite, I would go back in a heartbeat. LOL. Lovely post, Cathy!
You’re so right, Gail! I’ve learned the same in spending the first part of my day reading His Word, conversing, and praying throughout the day. The one-on-one time sets the tone. And I also remember those days when my boys were young, although we didn’t homeschool. I think of the verse that talks about to whom much is given, much is required. These “quieter” days are opportunities for the taking! Thank you for taking the time to share. Blessings!
I submit my application to the “Unhurried Club”…as I sprint from my study to the closet and morph into traveling clothes! I am “ruthlessly” striving to finish projects, and striving to close the door on more until I’ve had time to breathe.
Reading your post and all those awesome quotes gave me fresh air of hope that “Unhurried” will soon be my lifestyle – not just the flavor of the day!
Your application has been received and accepted! Ha!! I was hoping the quotes would inspire others as much as they did me. Thanks for that confirmation, sweet friend. 🙂
Cathy, I’m finding the word REST in so many places – First in CREATIVE PAUSES – then in THE STORY OF WITH FB page – based on Allen Arnold’s book – The Story Of With – a tremendous jumping off for creating with God. I came across the importance of rest this week in the Bible with the story of Moses, where his father in law tells him to use other people (sorry – Melville paraphrase) to aid in his ministry – giving himself time to rest/refresh. Your list of quotes is the frosting on a cake of important messages to my soul in the last six months!
I love when that happens! God shows Himself if we’ll just choose to slow down long enough to watch with an expectant heart. Isn’t Allen Arnold’s book a game changer? The entire last section is underlined in my book. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share, Joy. Blessings, friend!