Slowing

        As 2014 ends, I'm thankful for good health and a much better appreciation of how much I need to take care of myself.

       This summer, I came down with shingles. Generally a disease that affects people in their 60's and 70's. The pain is very strong and after 3 days of not knowing what it was, I went to the emergency room. The nurse said you're pretty young for this, what have you been doing to yourself ???
In younger people, my doctor told me stress or traumatic events usually trigger it. It took a solid 2 months to get over the nerve pain from the shingles. And another month to feel better.
     
       Needless to say, I've been doing a lot of thinking and praying about the "pace" of my life. I'm reading a book by John Ortberg called "The Life You've Always Wanted." In it, he talks about the practice of "slowing" - not filling every minute of every day with something. About giving yourself permission to rest.

       Ortberg writes that the number one problem he faces when leading retreats or extended times of prayer is that the participants fall asleep! That's funny, and kind of sad.

       The lesson I've learned, and the one I'm trying to move from my brain to my heart is this:
Either we slow the pace of our lives, or God allows our bodies to slow down, so we have no choice but to pay attention.

       Deciding to slow down on our own is difficult. Not knowing when our bodies will "konk out" way too soon is equally difficult.

Thanks be to God,

Alan