Falling Slowly Forward

We live in a fast-paced world. We are endlessly busy, and we are pulled in every direction, by everyone. At times, we might feel overwhelmed by what is expected of us. And it leaves us wondering—are our priorities in the right place? Are our faith, family and work lives in a healthy balance? Can we really do it all...as fast as possible? When life won't let up, or when we can’t catch our breath, we may find ourselves asking—begging—God to slow things down for a moment.

We know that life is short. Is that why we live in such a rush? But consider where you are rushing to. Are you looking ahead, anxious for the next season of your life? Or are you looking back, feeling like parts of your life are just a blur? It seems like we are running in circles and going nowhere. But just think—we are watching our children grow up all too fast and we wish that they would slow down. In moments like these, we know we should be paying better attention to the present moment.

The Ticking Clock

Most would say that the key to a healthy balance is slowing down or taking a break. Sometimes, life forces us to slow down rather than giving us a choice. And when it does, we usually aren't sure what to do or how to handle it. Generally, our world has a negative connotation for slowing down. Things should not be halted or hindered because it's considered a setback. Hurry, because there are goals to meet and deadlines to reach. Our world demands immediate gratification and there is no time to wait. But if we never stop, how can we be still and know that He is God?

So what does it mean to slow down? It doesn’t mean to be lazy, lie around all day, and watch Netflix. Relaxation is good for us, sure. But we can be lured away from God by these distractions. I think the answer to learning how to slow down is to listen to God, spend time in reflection, and put your priorities into perspective. It's a refocus—a daily compass from God—to guide our lives. It's about taking action and moving a step forward, rather than being stagnant. The passing of time is inevitable, so we must make a deliberate division of time based on what is most important. But, how?

The Free Fall

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." - Attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907-1991)

What is it like to fall in love? God invites us to fall in love with Him more and more every day. But it takes time and effort. You have to invest in your relationship and be intentional with your actions. The answer to discerning your priorities begins by taking a dive into his loving arms and letting go of your grip on the world. Then, let Love lead you to the rest of your life.

The Song in Our Hearts

I believe that God speaks to us through the things we love, because it is in those ways that we can understand Him best. And I think He uses any and all of the senses He has blessed us with. It is in these special and unique ways that He speaks our language. This is true for me in that He absolutely inspires me through beautiful melodies and the graceful art of dance and movement.

How can we hear God's still, small voice in the midst of the noise? We must learn to keep our inner tempo slow even if there is chaos around us. We can do this by spending time with Him and making every second of our lives a prayer. His music is as steady as the never-ending ticking of a clock. Keep in time with your Composer’s heartbeat. Take a breath. Be mindful of it. Thank God for it. And let Him slow the beat of your heart. By tuning into Him, we can drown out fear, doubt, and worry. We can dispel lies, selfishness and impatience. We can move past resentment and temptation. And we can hold on to hope.

Picture that He invites you to dance with Him. He holds you close in an intimate embrace as you lock eyes and sway slowly to the song He wrote for you. Trust Him to take the lead in the song of your life. When you get tired, just put your feet on His as a child would do. After all, we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom.

In what ways does he speak to you? God is always near to us. But at times, we may struggle to feel His presence. Sometimes we are worn before the day begins. Sometimes we feel broken and our song won’t play. Sometimes our dance isn't rhythmic and graceful. Maybe He is so close to us that we cannot see Him. Maybe there is so much noise, both around and within us, that we cannot hear Him. But when we slow down, the music sounds different. We hear things in a new way. We see the signs He gave us that we never saw before. Our senses are heightened and we notice and perceive the world in a whole new light.

The Stillness

It can be a challenge to keep your inner peace when there is chaos all around you. But that is just the spot where He will find you. He is always seeking you. If you hide in the mess, you are letting your life pass you by. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the world, let yourself be overwhelmed by Him—by His still, steady whisper, by His beauty, and by His radiant light and love. That is the secret to keeping peace within.

So what will you do with the time that's left? Choose to live in the present season of your life. You are right where He wants you. Make the most of the time given to you. Slow and quiet your heart to expand and absorb all of God's blessings and gifts. Give Him the chance to speak to you...to write your song...to choreograph your dance. You might just feel the brush of an angel's wing, a reassuring hug or a comforting kiss. It doesn't require you to do it all. Just lie back, take a deep breath and fall in love with Him—slow and steady. The key is that, rather than falling back into the rush of the world, we must fall forward into His loving arms.

Breath of God, breathe on us. Bless us with a renewed spirit of contemplation and the ability to slow and tune our hearts to your New Song. Lift our voices and make us instruments, not only of Your peace, but of Your love, virtue, and fidelity. Let our love song be in harmony with Your divine will. We don’t know when our last note will end, but we are ready to fall more in love with You with each pulsing beat of our heart. And may it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.