Advent ~ Third Week

Slow me down, God . . .
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace. Give me, amidst the day's confusion,
the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music of singing streams
that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking "minute vacations". . .
slowing down to look at a flower,
 to chat with a friend, to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me
of the fable of the hare and the tortoise;
that the race is not always to the swift;
that there is more to life than measuring its speed.

Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak
and know that . . .  it grew slowly . . .  and well.

Inspire me
to send my own roots down deep . . .
into the soil of life's endearing values . . .
.that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

Slow me down, God.
(~ Wilfred Adrian Peterson)

 

Do you have the patience to wait

Till your mud settles and the water is clear?

Can you remain unmoving

Till the right action arises by itself?

~ Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching

 

In the name of Jesus Christ,

who was never in a hurry,

we pray, O God,

that You will slow us down,

for we know that we live too fast.

(~ Peter Marshall)