by J. Randal Matheny

The Earth has rotated on its axis at the same speed since creation, I suppose. But we feel Einstein's relativity of time, since some of us would solemnly affirm that the days are shorter, the years go by more quickly, and there just isn't time enough to do what's needed.

We want to get to the Center of things, near the heart of God.

But we feel like we're on a merry-go-round, hanging on for dear life, about to be slung off by the centrifugal force.

Everything seems to work against us. Push us away. Obscure our goal.

It's too much fun, too fast. Even a day set aside to remember the cost of our freedom (Memorial Day in the USA) gets lost in travel and television and tasting the goodies.

No time for thinking, for thanking, for visiting, for praying. For being.

So where do we go from here?

We don't go. We stop.

Just as Jesus did. He stopped for the blind men (Matthew 20:32). He stopped to bless little children (Mark 10:15-17). He stopped to climb the mountain to be with the Father (Mark 1:35).

Jesus was not driven. He was drawn to the cross by the will of the Father. And he knew where to stop along the way.

So we may need a full stop as well.

A full stop to consider the blessings of freedom, the cost of liberty, the responsibilities of citizenship.

A full stop to breathe deeply the air of life, to see the beauty of our surroundings (even though we may consider them otherwise), to acknowledge the presence of others close by.

A full stop to ponder a word of Scripture, to chew our food, to relish being alone with God.

A full stop to consider the consequences of my habits, to hear myself speak, to look in the mirror.

We don't need more time. Nor more do. Nor more go. Little less do we need more fun and games.

We need more stop. More slow.

Maybe the tortoise knew more than he let on. He did, after all, win the race.