16 June | Youth
«He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.» Proverbs 14:29
We live in a time when people are busy, running from one side to another. They suffer from the so-called “rush syndrome,” a behavioral problem that affects a large part of the population.
The term “fast” has assumed a high importance in our vocabulary: there is fast food, fast money, fast ball, and even fast lane for those in a hurry on highways and subway steps. The impression given is that we are always late.
In the book Truth on Its Head, Warren W. Wiersbe tells the story of a university professor who went to meet a famous Chinese speaker in an overcrowded train station. After welcoming him, the teacher said in an agitated manner: “If we run to our platform, we will be able to catch the next train and we will save three minutes!” The Chinese speaker calmly looked at him and asked: “And what important thing should we do with the three minutes we will gain?” We do not know what the teacher's response was, but that sentence certainly taught him a great lesson.
And you? Have you stopped to analyze what the advantages of rushing are? What have you been doing with the seconds “gained” in traffic, for example? Have you been taking advantage of the “three minutes of cleverness” with things that really matter?
Today's text is an invitation to take our foot off the accelerator of life a little. It is better to be patient than hasty. What is the point of embracing the entire world and losing your health? What is the point of risking your life because of a yellow light? If your problem is time, then wake up earlier! If your difficulty is keeping up with your entire agenda, organize yourself better or learn to say “no”! Traveling by bullet train is great, but it does not compare to the view you get from a steamboat!
God wants us to live with patience, without rushing or hurry. This does not mean you should spend the day lying in a hammock, watching the clouds pass by in the sky. We must be proactive, efficient and productive in everything. However, we must do it with serenity, accuracy and consistency. Never forget that haste is the enemy of perfection. With calm and organization, you can go further.