I am a slow processor, I process information, experiences, moments slowly. I enjoy this as I get to savor moments. Sometimes I honestly believe it’s unhealthy as I end up overthinking or worse, procrastinating. I used to feel different for being “slow” you know, when everyone else gets the joke and 10 mins later you’re like “ohhhh, then you die laughing” (not literally dead). Or 40 mins later on the way home you finally get it. How about during a conversation with someone that goes south and you want to stand up for yourself or help that person to truly understand your point, the next day 5 thoughts of what you ‘could have said’ comes strolling in. Yeah, I’ve been there! But I’m starting to accept that slow part of me because it’s beautiful. I enjoy stopping to smell roses/flowers or taking pictures whenever I am walking. Days when I relax having a glass of grape juice and savoring the taste or walking slowly and really feeling the coolness of the breeze on my skin or the connection with the earth under my bare feet. Yes, I love nature and one has to slow down in order to appreciate, enjoy and connect with it. It’s healing and very therapeutic!
This morning I came outside to enjoy some fresh air and gaze at this huge tree that’s almost in my mom’s backyard (it’s a sight to see, at least to me- smile) it’s speaks so much of strength and power. It’s the tallest tree on our street and at least 3 streets over. As I sat on the red steps I glanced over to my left and saw a few snails and immediately I was inspired! I thought about these MOLLUSCS and how important they are despite being slow. They exist with us and some may count them out or write them off as nothing and useless but there’s wisdom and power in their “slow” existence and what they teach. Apart from how much we do get to see from slowing down, we can savor and appreciate every single one of those areas. We can freely enjoy the experiences life gives to us. We don’t always have to rush like a road runner. When we rush things, we miss out on creating moments and then enjoying them. Of course, I’m not saying to waste time; we should make haste and do what we have to. Psalm 119:60 “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.” Whenever we are instructed to do something or we know to do something we should get it done, we feel better rested because that task gets crossed off our ‘to do list’ now we can add more or rest.
Personally I love that I can cruise through without rush, holding on to the hands of Jesus. I can pause and spend time capturing moments and share them with him as we go. These bring great joy to the depths of my soul. Whether it is from praising him when I’m eating a fruit that is naturally sweet or how it’s beautifully decorated, to thanking him for allowing me to be at the right place at the right time to help someone with something as small as turning on a ‘new fashion’ faucet.
I’ll share some quotes and advantages of being “slow” below that I researched as I sat.
According to a post on WordPress, the writer says: ~ Being a slower learner often means that you end up digging deeper into a subject in order to understand it. Like walking to your destination instead of driving you tend to notice and appreciate the scenery more, when taking more time to learn something you will often notice more of the details…
~ You can find yourself critically analyzing and exploring a subject more in depth, often without even realizing it, than the person who has raced to the finish line without stopping to take a look at the scenery along the way.
~ You are able to look at things from different angles, be more creative with your ideas, be more flexible and adapt to changes more easily, this is easier to do when moving more slowly than when racing past.
Quotes: “No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying”
“It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop”
“Keep going. Progress is progress no matter how slowly you are making it.”
“Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.”
“Be not afraid of going slowly, be afraid only of standing still.”
“Small moves can have huge gains.” -Jane Lee Logan
“Time sometimes flies like a bird, sometimes crawl like a snail; but a man is happiest when he does not even notice whether it passes swiftly or slowly.”
“By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” – Charles Spurgeon
I love this one “she knew where she wanted to go and came to trust that steps rather than speed, is the way she wanted to get there.”
These blessed my soul as I sometimes feel me rushing spending more intimate time with Jesus to getting work/ ministry done. While doing is great, spending time with Jesus is best! I’m often reminded though of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy with chores/ work while Mary was busy sitting at Jesus’s feet. Neither are wrong , it’s just that Jesus said Mary found something that will never be taken away from her. She was storing up heavenly treasures by learning more about her Savior. This way she will be able to identify His voice in encouraging and complimenting her, sharing his thoughts and heart with her, even more during difficult stormy times when she really need his peace. Spending time can seem like wasting time doing nothing but oh how our souls become blessed, our spirits become firm and we become rich in trust. My biggest fear in slowing down and spending more intimate worship time with Jesus (silly girl, spending time with Jesus does not hinder you, lol) or enjoying life was that I’d get comfortable (lazy) and get lured away from fulfilling his purpose and calling on my life, but Jesus assured me that He is my anchor. Therefore, It’s impossible to be lazy living in the peace and presence of God! Living in his presence leads me to fulfilling purpose. Whew, what a relief!
Don’t feel different for being a bit slower than others. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made. Jesus knew what he was doing when he knitted you in your mother’s womb. Use your quiet time to ask, or allow your spirit to guide you to finding out your beauties in being slow. I bet He will blow your mind!!!
Supporting Scriptures Proverbs 19:2 “Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” NIV
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” NIV
