Slow Living - January Thoughts

Happy Sunday!

I've wanted to write a post like this for a while now. Before Christmas I read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and honestly it has helped change my outlook on where and how I spend my time.

I realise for a lot of us now time is slow, the days seem long and it's kind of like groundhog day, we're living each day again and again. Also was so thankful for the little rays of sunshine through my window this morning, this grey weather is definitely making things harder. But for me although I'm still at work every day, I'm really appreciating this slowing down of life that I've experienced over this last year. It's helped me to recognise what is important day to day and how I can appreciate time by being more careful with how I spend it. Don't get me wrong, I'm on a journey and still have days and times where I'm sat scrolling through social media, it's addictive. But I'm trying to be more intentional with how I plan and spend my time.

By slowing down and prioritising things that are important I feel I can live a better quality of life. I want to talk about a couple of things that really spoke to me while reading John Mark Comer's book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.

First he explains how love, joy and peace cannot exist with hurry. Often when I'm in a hurry to get somewhere or get something done, I'm most likely not being very loving to those around me. I might be more irritable and anxious and prioritising my time before anybody else's. That's not loving. Looking at joy, John Mark says,

'if there’s a secret to happiness, it’s simple—presence to the moment.’

How can we be truly joyful if our minds are occupied elsewhere in the business of life. We need to be experiencing life in the here and now. And then peace, when we're running out the door or driving maybe just over the speed limit do we really experience God's true peace with us helping us through the day? No.

I also LOVE how John Mark talks about Jesus' yoke. I've never truly understood this verse, 

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30

God doesn't say it's going to be easy being a christian. But his yoke helps us through it because it's light, he's holding the yoke for us and taking on those things that weigh us down himself.

"That’s why Jesus doesn’t offer us an escape. He offers us something far better: “equipment.” He offers his apprentices a whole new way to bear the weight of our humanity: with ease. At his side. Like two oxen in a field, tied shoulder to shoulder. With Jesus doing all the heavy lifting. At his pace. Slow, unhurried, present to the moment, full of love and joy and peace. An easy life isn’t an option; an easy yoke is."

John Mark also discuss how we are made in the image of God and how that means we aren't ACTUALLY God... obvs. We're made in his image so we're like him, but not identical. Thankfully this means we actually can't do everything we want to do! It's important to say no and recognise that we really can't do all those things we might want to do. This frees us up time and space to live in God's love, joy and peace. We've got to learn to say no.

I've just finished reading another one of John Mark Comer's books 'Garden City'. Another really great read which I might write about over the next few weeks. it's really challenged me and given me some things to think about!

Anyway, I hope this read has been helpful for you today. I hope you are doing ok in this strange time and for us in the UK we're still in a national lockdown. Just sending lots of love!

Thankyou for reading,

Emily xx