Take Time

There is no doubt that we live in a busy world. It seems as if everyone has a million things on their to-do list and that they are always running ten minutes late for every appointment. Traffic jams are the norm in most cities and have even spilled over into smaller towns. Road rage is at an all time high and pushing and shoving of pedestrians happens all the time. Everyone is in a hurry. People don't have the time to stop and chat about the weather or sometimes even to say a quick 'good morning' as they pass you on the street. There is always something needing to be done and things that never get done.

It used to be that only adults were the busy ones and then only those who had a paying job to go to, but now children are as busy as adults; if not even busier. There is a great need to have 'accomplished' children, so we put them in as many after school and pre school programs as there is time to; everything from piano lessons to soccer practice to swimming lessons and many of them all in the same day. Yes, we certainly live in a busy world.

In the midst of all of this frenzy it's important that we take the time to breathe. Just breathe. Take a deep breath and hold it for a second and let it slowly out. Relax. The Bible tells us in Ecclesiastics chapter 3 that there is a time for everything. There are only twenty-four hours in every day and many people in the world are trying to cram more activities and duties into those hours than can possibly fit. The results are discontentment, stress, worry, strife, unhappiness, health problems and loss of connection with family members, just to name a few.

Early this morning I had to leave our island to pick something up at one of the stores in town, and as I was driving across the causeway that connects our island to the mainland, I was struck with how peaceful and beautiful the water all around me was. There wasn't a ripple in the ocean. It was just like a mirror. I slowed my van down to better enjoy this gift the Lord had given me and took the time to relax. There was a red fishing boat anchored near a beautiful white sail boat and both were perfectly reflected in the water. Even the water birds weren't disturbing the stillness of the water. As I neared the end of the point of land I saw a dory with one lone rower at the oars. All around the dory the water was still glassy smooth except for the barely- there ripple caused by it's passage. It was such a beautiful scene and it spoke of such peace and solitude that I had to thank the Lord for blessing me with this picture that He created.

I had errands to run this morning and I was in a hurry but I took the time to stop and enjoy the peace the Lord had created. There is a time to rush, but today wasn't it. Let me encourage you to take the time to breathe deeply and enjoy God's creation and His presence; His peace.


 To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven:
   
 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
   
 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
   
 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
   
 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
   
 a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
   
 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
   
 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.


Ecclesiastes 3:1-8