Every summer, my grandkids like to collect live insects and put them in a jar. Sometimes, they put incompatible species together in a jar and become disappointed at the outcome.
I do that as an adult. Not with insects; but with feelings and memories. I want to collect and possess peace, love, and joy, and share it with others. All good intentions, right?
While I hold this goal in the forefront of my thoughts, words, and actions, sometimes the forces of normal, everyday life begin to filter in. Before you know it, I’m caught up in a moment and my inner thoughts begin to pipe in with “Oh gosh, look at the time” and “Can you believe this traffic?”
As I am trying to have a quiet lunch date with my wife, my phone begins to vibrate multiple times and my attention immediately goes to “I wonder who is blowing up my phone” and eventually, I make the mistake of picking it up to find out. Not long after, I ask my wife, “Honey, do you mind if I take this?”
That moment signified what was the end of a quiet little lunch date intended to make my wife feel special.
(Maybe you can relate.)
My point here is that “hurry” is an incompatible species with peace, love, and joy.
I’m not saying that I am going to stop using my phone, nor should you. But wouldn’t we all be happier if we created some margin in our lives to fully experience whatever those quiet moments have to offer? We prioritize a lot of “stuff” over slow and quiet time.
Peace, love and joy are “the good stuff” that refuels both our own souls and those of the people we care about the most.
Let’s try putting any hurry in its own jar so it doesn’t cannibalize the good stuff.
All the best,
Steve
