With rare exception does God do anything significant in a hurry. When God “tabernacle’d” with mankind through the incarnation of Jesus He only served for three years. Imagine what we would try to do in three years, and yet look at how much Jesus did in just three years. 

John was one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples. At the end of the gospel attached to his name he concludes, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written (John 21:25).” And yet He was never in a hurry… there was no technology,  no vehicles, no microwave oven or stove or running water, or computer, or smart phone, or social media to help get the word out.

I’ve struggled for 50 years with the speed and pace of my life. I know how important it is to do less things, be committed to less causes and commitments, and to do what I do more slowly, being more present with the people I am with. This kind of living is more loving, and love requires slow. Rarely is love experienced in a hurry. And isn’t love really what life is all about? Loving God and people.

Because slowing down is to important to loving well, and I want to love well, my goals this year are centered on living in less of a hurry so I can be present and attentive to God and the people I’m blessed to be around. Here’s a list of 10 specific ways or examples of how I plan on slowing down this year:

1. Sabbatical (May-July). I will share more details in a dedicated post about this later this month. This will be my first sabbatical after 21 years of full time ministry. I’m looking forward to this time of rest, reflection & refocusing, renewal & restoration.
2. Margin. Build into my written ideal schedule and put onto my calendar.
3. Strategic days off (Mon). No more than 1 hour (15-30 mins am, 15-30 mins pm, nothing after dinner) on social media. The main focus of these sabbath days off is to “pray and play.” More of my focus will be on time with my wife Laura and our kids.
4. Start each day focused. Dedicate a brief review of my calendar and Todoist. Adjust my day and plans accordingly.
5. End each day focused. Before getting into bed do a brief review of day and preview the next day.
6. Park with purpose. Rather than try to find closest parking spot, park further away and enjoy the extra steps.
7. Pay with purpose. Pick a line rather than stressing to find the shortest line (when shopping)
8. Read with purpose. Schedule 15-30 mins of reading every morning and evening with the goal of simmering on a few great books rather than trying to read through a bunch of books
9. Drive with purpose. Work on driving within 5 miles per hour of the speed limit.
10. Margin. Schedule 5-10 mins before and after every meeting with someone to consider them, think about what’s needed, pray, reflect, & follow up.

What have you found helpful for slowing down?