Week four, chapter four of Journey Reading: Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts."
"I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here - time asks me to do the hardest of all: just open wide and receive." (pg 69)
I found myself slowing while reading this chapter, breathing deep and yearning to start my own list. I have lots of lists and have even listed blessings and things to be thankful for. But specifically looking for gift, blessings, thanksgiving daily...that sounds like a list worth my time. Will you join me? Just one a day. Maybe we can share a couple here each week. Slowing time by fully living in it is my goal for this week.
So what did you think? Are you or have you ever been an "amateur", hurrying through life impatiently?
Does God live in the moments with us? I mean, do we not see Him, find Him, because we are too hurried?
Have you ever embraced your "not enoughness" and thank God anyway? What happened?
How would you "live slow"? How could you do that to meet the urgent need of life?
How long does it take for your soul to realize you life is full? What has been your experience with "over-filling" life or starving it?
"Life is a dessert--too brief to hurry." (pg 77)
I do find myself hurrying through life at times. I try not to, but it can be hard some days. I always think back to big events in life and always remember thinking "oh, I can't wait for (fill in the blank) to happen", seems to take forever to get here, but then....after it passes, it feels as though it has flown by and I wasn't able to really enjoy it and I regret not chering it more. My husband and I just celebrated our 8th anniversary this week. I remember, before we got married, thinking how I couldn't wait to get married, to move into our house together and to share our lives together. It's now been 8 years later and I now wonder where the time went. Why am always in such a hurry? Why can't I be content with the here and now? Why do I always wish life away to get to something else? I have to remind myself to slow down and take in life and thank God for each day and the things He gives us.
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