The Opposite of Hurry

Beloved:         

I pray this note finds you joyful in the beauty of this perfect autumn day.  Perfect in southern Indiana, that is. The leaves drift past my study window in waves of yellow light. In a bit I'll load the car and leave for the church to spend the afternoon carving pumpkins with our Global Women’s Gathering friends. Then to the gym for my date with the treadmill and back to the church for deacon’s meeting.  Mine is hardly the schedule of a world leader but full of good work nonetheless.          

These days I’m working on not hurrying.  Sadly, the word hurry has no satisfying antonym.  I don’t simply want to slow down but to do each task thoughtfully, intentionally and completely. Amazingly, not hurrying does not take up more time than hurrying.  Nor am I less tired at the end of the day.  But the tired I feel is so much different, and better.  Of course not hurrying is easier with  no practice to get kids to, no homework to supervise, no cupcakes to make for tomorrow’s class party.  All the same I still have to start over at least five times a day.         

Whatever your spiritual practice these days, I wish you much patience and joy in the process.   

~peace & prayers,

pastor annette