linger longer

we live in a world of hurry

running from point A to point B

place to place

person to person

day to day

we don’t live in a world that often leaves room to pause

to breathe

to feel

to love

this is something the Lord has been teaching me - to pause is not to be inconvenienced

sometimes i need to take the time to listen even if it isn’t scheduled in my calendar

to be intentional in loving even if that means im a little late

(and obviously im not saying that we need to push off the responsibility of being reliable and timely)

but…when did we as people become so consumed with the task list that we became a little less human and a little more calendarized

because if i can’t take five extra minutes to prioritize someone else in the middle of my busyness…then what am i doing and is it even worth it?

im learning to stop rushing myself

to stop rushing God

to stop rushing the timeline of the one who created time itself

Jesus was never inconvenienced, the gospels are filled with stories of him stopping for people, for strangers, around him

he didnt let someone pass without being seen and loved

& this is the very example we should follow

i’ve been learning the art of being present

to stop picking up my phone in the middle of conversations

to truly listen

to create space for people to be seen and heard

to sit at the restaurant a little longer and understand the heart of who’s sitting across from me a little better

our society finds purpose in busyness

but Jesus never said greatest of these is the one with the full calendar

or greatest of these is a completed to do list

he said greatest of these is love

and yes - to be busy to an extent is important

but at what cost?

i’ve made it a goal of mine to spend the rest of this year, and beyond that, to lingering longer. to stop and listen. to sit around the table with the people i love and go beyond whats surface level. to being fully present. to putting my phone down and checking in with the reality of this beautiful world in front of me. to linger longer even when im tired. even when i don’t necessarily want to be around people. even when i think i have nothing to say. because i’ve found that’s where the Lord shows up the most. in the moments i don’t quite feel like im capable, because even when im not - he is.

linger longer

love harder

pour your oil out

peace + love