I generally hurry – walk fast, drive a bit faster than I should, juggle the phone while putting away dishes, arrive only minutes before appointments so I don’t waste time waiting – well, you get the idea. I could say God had blessed me with a talent for efficiency but I began to notice impatience creeping in.
That awareness was more obvious when road rage became a common public topic. Drivers wildly speeding, cutting in and out of traffic and making hand motions of frustration were becoming all too familiar on the road. Deep down inside I was acutely aware that while I had not yet acted on it, I could relate to the expressions of irritation on their faces. Could my “drive” for efficiency escalate to anger like theirs?
Dallas Willard is famously and frequently quoted “to ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life” when asked how to cultivate a healthy spiritual life. He emphasized Jesus’ unhurried nature in relation to the question “what would Jesus do?” But for a “git ‘er done” kind of person that I am, to imply hurry as sinful behavior felt unfair to me.
Spending time in prayer about it, I was led to understand it isn’t so much the act of hurry that is the problem. What is dangerous to spiritual health is the underlying impatience and potential frustration that accompanies ramping up your heart rate and trying to speed up your day to squeeze seconds out of hours just to check off another thing from your must do list. And being preoccupied with tasks yields inattention to God’s guidance and provision through our day.
But I prayerfully discovered something else—an unexpected opportunity. When I think of Jesus’ acts of gentle and humble charity to others, could the way I drive be a quiet mission of peace?
I recalled a time I was nearly hit head on when a lady made too tight a turn in the grocery store parking lot. We were close enough for me to see her embarrassed and horrified expression. When I smiled and waved my hand as if to say “that’s ok, I’ve done that too!,” the relief on her face left a lasting reminder of simple gifts we can give to a stranger.
People in cars next to us are strangers on unknown journeys. They could be distracted with worry on their way to the bank or headed home after devastating news from their doctor. Maybe they had a stressful day and need a smile of encouragement. Or maybe they are an angry driver that needs a prayer of grace to soften their heart as they speed by.
I can’t live a mission of peace if I am in a hurry, I miss too much. But when I slow down I have time to notice prayer opportunities that God may put around me. And when I slow down enough to trust Him with the space of time that He gives in a day, I still get the needful thing done.
