Un-hurry to the Pace of Jesus

from The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

Brian and Andi Hale read their daily devotional along with a quick look at weather and this day in history.

The philosopher Dallas Willard once called hurry “the great enemy of spiritual life in our day,” and urged followers of Jesus to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

When I first came across Willard’s anti-hurry vision of life in Jesus’ kingdom, it struck a deep chord in my soul. And yet his culprit for the “great enemy of spiritual life” is not what I would expect. I live in one of the most secular, progressive cities in America, but if you were to ask me, what is the greatest challenge to your spiritual life in Portland? I’m not sure what I’d say.

How would you answer that question?

I bet very few of us would default to “hurry” as our answer.

And yet the more I think about it, the more I agree.

‬Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‭-‬30

Corrie ten Boom once said that if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.

Her logic is sound: both sin and busyness have the exact same effect—they cut off our connection to God, to other people, and even to our own soul.

Many of us are just too busy to live emotionally healthy and spiritually rich and vibrant lives.

Granted, there is a healthy kind of busyness where your life is full with things that matter, not wasted on empty leisure or trivial pursuits. By that definition, Jesus himself was busy.

‬While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:18‭-‬26

The problem isn’t when you have a lot to do; it’s when you have too much to do, and the only way to keep the quota up is to hurry.

And, as we will explore over the next few days, hurry is incompatible with life in Jesus’ kingdom.

We simply cannot live with Jesus in his kingdom, and live a life of speed.

Exercise for the day: Slow down

What would it look like for you to slow down today?

As you move through your day, pay attention to your body, the sensations of hurry, stress, distraction, or irritation that you feel. Notice how they inhibit your ability to be present in love.

Pause 2-3 more times during this day to simply breathe, take in God’s loving presence, and practice gratitude.

Reading question: How did Jesus’ unhurried, present-to-the-moment nature increase his capacity to meet the woman with internal bleeding in her need?