Slow Down!

I found myself caught up in thought as I was driving home one night from the gym a few weeks ago. The sun was already set and i was on what i call the "country road" nearing my house, where trees bow over the twisting street. At the darkest hours it can be rather eerie. It is not a very busy road and i have a bad habit of speeding. I had my brights on and was speeding along and i realized i was going pretty fast and something inside of me silently yet strongly nugged me to "Slow Down!". I thought to myself, "Ok, Holy Spirit....is there a cop around and are you warning me so as to avoid getting a ticket? Do you do that, do you warn us so we avoid the consequences of our actions?" That phrase "Slow Down" persisted and i slowed down and drove the speed the limit the rest of the way home. The few minutes left of the drive home, Holy Spirit began to speak to me. It's amazing the answers we get when we take time to ask the questions.
My question was to Holy Spirit and it was simply this, "What are you trying to say? What does 'Slow down' mean?"
He began to reveal to me that I had gotten so busy in my life. My schedule of work, gym, church, friends had consumed my life. Not that any of those things are bad and all are necessary but i was failing to take time to slow down and allow Holy Spirit to direct me. I think was a fear in me of slowing down. I know how to "do" but i am still being taught how to "be". I saw my drive that night as an image of my life going by quickly and Holy Spirit calling me to slow down. Going as fast as i was, i was missing the view around me and could easily have missed my turn. In my life, as fast as i had been going, i was missing out on the view of the journey around me which God uses to romance us. And not only that, but if i was choosing to not slow down, i would easily miss my turn. There are seasons of life where we remain on the same path for a while but God places turns that we must be aware of when they come.
My response to this is to slow down. And in slowing down i choose to engage Holy Spirit to guide me and direct my way. There is a peace that comes and an enjoyment to embrace the journey. I encourage you reader, to ponder this: Are you too busy with life that you are missing the romance of the journey or that you are missing the turns that could lead you to your destination? It is something i have answered for myself. And with that, i am excited to slow down and see where i end up!