Take your time, but hurry up! In a teasing tone, my dad used to say this line as we delivered ice together throughout the city of Detroit when I was younger. I always laughed at the phrase and we would spew it comically toward one another while on the road from time to time in a teasing tone, but I never gave it much thought aside from that. Lately, I've been thinking a bit more about this phrase. "Take your time, but hurry up." Isn't this the way many of us live our lives today? In today's world, it's easy to be pulled in 100 different directions for better or worse, but not often for better if we are being transparent. Hurry up and finish that project, hurry up and get married and have kids, hurry up and figure out "what you want to do when you grow up..." Take your time finding the "right" person, don't jump into any "rash" decisions, and take your time consulting everyone for their opinion, but don't ask for too many opinions. This is the world we live in today, a take your time, but hurry up kind of world.
The more I've thought about this phrase that many of us unknowingly realize, I began to grow frustrated at this way of living, but I'm beginning to think that it can be a useful "catchphrase" to live by when implemented correctly. What would it look like if we took our time a little bit more with the things that truly matter and all those little things that make our hearts jump for joy? Additionally, what would it look like if we "hurried up" a bit more when making decisions that we KNOW God has called us to move towards? What would it look like if we stopped hesitating when it comes to our God-given gifts and the purpose that we have felt called towards but may have placed under the bed to collect dust for many years? I believe our lives would look beautifully hopeful and exciting if we decided to live life in this manner regardless of what the world is telling us. May we be a generation that jumps shamelessly and without hesitation towards the God-sized dreams that shine through our hearts, and isn't afraid to take our sweet time when we get there, soaking up every moment in the presence of the Lord, while in the midst of our God sized dreams.
Isaiah 40:31 is one of my all-time favorite verses. It states "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." What a beautiful reminder that those who wait on and sit with the Lord, have renewed strength. That being said, there is also an element of change in pace and direction that I see in this verse. It's important to take our time and wait on the Lord, but once the Lord comes and renews our strength and mounts us up with wings like Eagles, it's time to soar. At that moment we must decide to run towards those God-given desires of our heart with shameless abandonment. Let me ask, what are you waiting on in this season? Is it time to slow down, take a breath, and tune into the voice of God? Or, has God been speaking to the dreams of your heart for weeks, months, or years? Is it time to soar across the sky like an eagle? Whichever season you find yourself in, grace abounds. There is no magic formula that leads toward perfection. God isn't looking for perfect people and the truth is, most of your friends, family, and co-workers aren't looking for perfect people, they are looking for present people. People who are genuine, present in each moment, always acting out of love, and always willing to give 100% regardless of the outcome. As you move forward this week and think about that classic phrase my Father used to say, "Take your time, but hurry up." Remember to give yourself permission to both take your time and smell the roses, and also dive head first into that goal, dream, or opportunity that the deepest place in your heart knows God as brought forth out of His great love for you. Take your time, hurry up, but above all, lean in and let the Lord guide your footsteps and wherever you find yourself, that's right where you are meant to be.
It's been a while since I've written anything because of all the recent changes. I'm finding my own balance for taking my time and hurrying up with all the change we have experienced lately. Thanks for spending your downtime with me.
