What Are You Rushing Off To? By Clay Bowden
As I drive through my first snow in Nashville, Amy Grant’s, “I Need a Silent Night” starts playing from my dependable Christmas playlist. I added this song to my playlist when I was adding all of Amy Grant's albums a couple years back. Honestly, it has never been my favorite and I never thought that much of it. However, this year the song affected me more than usual. Near the middle of the song, a common paragraph from the nativity story is spoken:
“There were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. And the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were so afraid. And the angel said, “Fear not for behold I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.”
It could have been the soothing voice, the quiet white snow falling, or the words that enlivened a peaceful spirit in my mind. Until this year, my spiritual practices in Advent were never really intentional, it was more of me just anxiously awaiting Christmas day while being home with my family attempting to preserve all of our family traditions with my older siblings. But with the year of 2020 nearing an end and the reflection on Advent within the Fellows program, God has shown me the importance in practicing Advent: celebrating in the season of darkness and waiting for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Like many in my generation, I like instant gratification. Instant answers. I hate to wait and the longer the wait the more I feel like I am losing control- very much a downward spiral. A couple weeks back during my quiet time I read 2 Peter 3 where the Lord told me, “My daughter, I do not delay my promise to you, but I am being patient with you.”
Dang. I always thought I had to wait around for God to answer my prayers, but in this relationship, He has to be patient with ME. I just picture God chuckling to himself watching me act like a complete basket-case. With the rush and hurry of life, I get so caught up within my own storm that I am unable to see the bigger picture- God’s intention for my life and who He wants me to be. As I run around like a chicken with its head cut off, God is just sitting there smiling down on his precious, yet naive child.
The Fellows and I have recently read John Mark Comer’s book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone. This reading came at the perfect time when I was in quarantine, which looking back, was not a coincidence in God’s plan. Comer provides four practices to “unhurry” our lives: silence and solitude, sabbath, simplicity, and slowing. During quarantine, I definitely had the silence and solitude covered. As each day went by, I woke up the next morning thinking if it was the day I was going to become absolutely stir crazy...shockingly, that day never came. During this time in isolation, I really felt God’s presence in how He cared for me, but also how He provided so many amazing friends and members from the community to care for me. I left my quarantine feeling rejuvenated and free (not just because I could return to work and my community), but I didn’t feel the weight of the world’s need to be hurried.
If you remember, in my past blog post, I shared how I like to be busy to the point where every minute is booked in my week...not my best trait. Comer’s section on slowing was the most poignant, especially in this new stage of life where it is easy to overbook myself. He gives twenty principles to help slow yourself down, many of which involve driving practices. Don’t get me wrong, I am a pretty safe driver (knock on wood), but rarely do I ever drive intentionally in the slow lane or the actual speed limit- it is a lot harder than you think. I can’t remember the last time I read something like Comer’s book and have it constantly replaying in my head. This I know, the Holy Spirit is encouraging me to slow down in a tangible way: “Clay, slow down, slow down. Where are you rushing off to?” And these thoughts have then impacted the slowing of my mind, my schedule, etc.
Of course, I am over a week into Advent and I still feel myself practicing my old habits of rushing. This is obviously going to be a work in progress for me. However, after quarantine God has reminded me that He is there and speaking to me. I just need to slow down and recenter myself in Him and His Purpose. To wait for Him and to be patient, in the same way He has chosen to be patient with me.
In this season of Advent, as we await the glorious arrival of Jesus Christ, I am delighted in hope. Yes, that 2020 will soon be over and that 2021 will be abounding with peace: a time where we will all be reunited and able to gather without fear of illness, judgement, and death. But most importantly, hope in the good news:
“And the angel said, “Fear not for behold I bring you good news of a great joy that shall be for all people. For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace.”
I am challenging myself to find joy in the waiting for Jesus. To no longer wish away 2020, but to be content with exactly where I am. To prepare the manger for our faithful King properly. To continue to give Him control in my life and that I can clearly see the path He desires for me. In this season of intentional slowing and waiting, I hope that He is effortlessly in it all. At the end of Comer’s book, he shares a no truer statement: “With Jesus there is still a yoke, but an easy yoke, and we can never carry it alone” (256).
Praise be to You O Christ, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I look forward to Your Light entering the world. I pray in my waiting for Your arrival that I glorify You and all Your Righteousness.
