Strolling through the aisles pushing my cart full of dog food and Cheerios just last weekend, I noticed a crowd milling towards the rear of the store. Never one to miss a good deal, or at least not one to miss drooling over a good deal, I wrangled my shopping cart in the direction of the massive amoeba of people. I could see “Stuff” disappearing off the shelves as the amoeba moved past it. Lego sets, cheese and wine gift packs, lights, ornaments, and wrapping paper were jumping through the air into carts seemingly of their own accord. If we are truly still suffering the effects of the Great Recession, no one has told these Costco shoppers.
At the edge of the near-melee I stopped to admire a convertible crystal punch bowl/salad bowl/covered cake plate/dip and chip set. (I am neither kidding nor exaggerating.) The lady next to me was gushing over what an amazing piece this crystal creation really was. I nodded, yes; it certainly is a wonderful idea and such a space-saver too. She put it in her cart, exclaiming it would be just the thing for her New Year’s Eve party. That’s when it hit me.
Life zips along at a dizzying speed as it is, and if I am not careful the tyranny of calendar commitments and a sense of time warped by retail marketing can mess with my priorities. My family’s life doesn't have to run on the calendar set by the local mall…or the school system…or the TV guide.
Just because the world is going Christmas shopping at Costco, doesn't mean I can’t enjoy this beautiful fall day, bake some pumpkin muffins, and continue prayerfully charting a course through this day, and this week. I do not need to inventory the holiday decorations. I need to be here, with my son, thinking about The Jungle and what, if anything, our society has gained from 100 years of hyper-industrialization that has made us better people. I need to be here – really be here, now.
Too often I catch the rat race as if it were a very contagious viral flu. Just being around people suffering from it makes me liable to come down with the same thing. Instead, I want to concentrate on living the life God has put in front of me this day. I want to live it well. I want each word, each act, to glorify Him. I want to dwell on what is truly important, not just that which is urgent.
Here are some verses I have been meditating on this week. If you have a verse or verses that help you slow down and focus on God, please leave them in the comments - we would love to know!
1 Thess. 4:11. "And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you..."
Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
Psalm 23:2 "He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters."
Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Slow down, take a deep breath, I remind myself several times a day. Be truly present in your own life. Be truly present in every conversation, in every task, in every moment.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Yes, Lord.
Blessings,
Cara & Patti
Classic Christianity