The Spiritual Art of Slowing Down

"It's easy to operate under the illusion that what we are doing is so important we cannot stop doing it. We think we cannot slow down, especially for something trifling.  But that is exactly the sort of thing we must never be too busy for.  Stopping is a spiritual art.  It is the refuge where we drink life in."


FIRSTLIGHT
Sue Monk Kidd


In one of her earlier writings, Sue Monk Kidd shares a story about being in a huge hurry, traveling through North Carolina mountains.  She had important things to do, but she noticed the car in front of her come to a complete stop.   A very large turtle was slowly crossing the mountain road.  She had to patiently wait for the animal to safely cross.  While doing so, she began to notice the movements of the slowly paced turtle, comparing them to her own which were at breakneck speed.  

As she sat waiting, Sue Monk Kidd unrolled her window.  She felt a gentle breeze,as the swaying of the trees caught her eye.  She breathed in the fragrances and began to notice all of  the beautiful colors of the mountain area.  She 'tasted the beauty of life' and felt 'God's contemplative peace enter her heart.'

We tell ourselves how we cannot afford to slow down, how we have deadlines that only we can successfully meet, and how necessary it is to remain faithful to our schedules.  This all of course is an illusion.  It is a story we tell over and over again.  Then a turtle wanders onto the path, slowing us down to experience the 'spiritual art' of slowing down.