From Equilibrium: 31 Ways to Stay Balanced on Life’s Uneven Surfaces.
Our information is shelled with statistics. Our schedules are crammed with goals. Our meetings are overloaded with the pursuit.
What if we stop the race, just for a moment? What if we cease the chase, just for an instant? What if we halt the hurry, just to take a breath? What if we break the attack, just to take a pause?
Maybe we will notice the size of a crowd or the popularity of an event or the applause of supporters aren’t as important as we have been taught. Jesus left the crowds when His disciples thought it was His chance to initiate a movement.
Jesus noticed fishermen and invited them to follow Him. Zacchaeus was so small he had to climb a tree to even see Jesus and he was such a selfish tax collector he would not have been selected for dinner by other circuit riders, but Jesus saw him. Jesus went to eat at the home of Zacchaeus.
Go farther back in biblical history to remember David and Goliath. David was able to see the big and let an impossible victory become a reality because he had spent time investing in what the crowd didn’t notice, what the headlines didn’t highlight, what the culture didn’t applaud.
Today, start where you are. Be faithful when no one is looking. Do not be controlled by the numbers, the attention, the ovation. Identify and stay true to your “why.”
I really like this concept of slowing down enough to see the people around you. See what is going on around you and have the time to respond however they need to it. But then along with that, being faithful when no one is looking, being faithful even in the little things. Being set free from these statistics that the world gives us to measure our success and look at what God tells us true success is.
Slowing down and taking a breath is something I’ve noticed that has amazing after effects. It tends to be a reminder that I am okay, that I am me, I am healthy and in a great spot in life. Looking forward to tomorrow is important but not as important as your day today. I love these reminders
I believe that our generation never slows down and appreciates the little things. Because the world is so fast pace, we overlook many things we should be grateful for. Instead, our generation glamorizes all of these celebrities and spends more time learning about them than the Word of God or building a connection with God. I can relate to this too myself because it is easy to take going for a run for granted when I should be faithful and give thanks to the Lord for allowing me to go for the run no matter if it was good or bad instead of only giving thanks when I run really good. Comparing yourself to others can be detrimental because it can lead to low self-esteem and dissatisfaction with our own life. God has a plan and timeline for us. In conclusion, being faithful to God is an important aspect of our faith and spiritual journey.
I think this concept of slowing down and noticing what others may not see is easy to say but hard to follow through. Personally, I have really been trying to hear Gods voice in the whisper because it’s easy for me to find him in the big things. And nothing is wrong with that, but what about in the simple things. Things we don’t usually think of God being in control of. I think this was a good reminder!
What this blog means to me is to not worry about what other people think about my life so much. The examples used in this were of people who went and were by themselves. So often I focus on what the world and what other people tell me is right, but I rarely am able to just be okay in my own skin without worrying about others. I have to learn to be okay where I am at.
I like the concept of slowing down and taking time to notice other people around you. Sometimes I find myself becoming stressed and overwhelmed because I am so caught up in what I have to get done in a day and all the plans I have and I think that I am the only one that feels this way. In reality, probably everyone I pass on the sidewalk feels the same way as me. If I could slow down and focus on everything else around me, then I would not only be helping myself become less stressed, but I could take the time to be there for others to help them feel less stress and pressure as well.
This blog is one of my favorites that I have read. I know what it is like to want to get to the finish line as fast as possible. Everybody has goals they want to achieve in their life and most would like to achieve those goals as fast as possible. When we become too focused with these goals we forget to stop and look around us. Taking the time to stop and notice small details around us can help us find what others didn’t seem to notice. Not only, can this release our stress but others as well.
I really enjoyed my time reading this blog. I think that sometimes we are in such a rush to reach the goals that we forget to live in the moment and rest in the presence of God. The things that are going on around us are SOOOO important, and we forget to pause and check it out!
I like the thought of slowing down and noticing the acknowledged because I feel like that is not done a lot in today’s society. We are constantly looking for who is the best and the brightest at what they do and not looking down at those who may have the qualities to be great but need a little assistance to get there. I feel like we can relate these ‘underdog’ bible story characters to women. Throughout history women have been overlooked by others for job promotions or hard labor when we are just as, if not more, capable.
I really enjoy this piece. Lately, I have been overwhelming myself with things to do. that I have forgotten how important it is to slow down and enjoy the present. Because we will never get the now back.
I liked this post because it is a good reminder that we need to stop for a second and know where we are. I thought about comparing myself to those who are way above me and remembered I often felt disappointed in myself because I was not on their level. I am going to remind myself that I cannot judge myself by other people’s standards. If I am to treat myself fairly, I need to know where I am and start there to work my way up to be better.
I think the thought of the quiet and personal time and moments go so well with the nature of Christ. thinking about how if we are not quiet, we cannot truly hear the voice of God. He takes all of our emotions and instances, but also it is important to know that if we want to hear him speak, we must slow down and listen amidst the quiet for his voice. He does not proclaim loudly in the streets, but rather quietly as we sit beside him.