The Pace of Being Known
For most of my sixty years, I have been running through life to get somewhere else. When you run, you miss things. Too many to count.
We all carry dreams we are chasing, and in western civilization you “have to keep pace” if you want to see them fulfilled.
Life as we know it has changed dramatically since Jesus was here in the 1st century. Things picked up speed when the Industrial Revolution came. It was the transition to new manufacturing processes between 1760 and 1840 in Great Britain, continental Europe and the United States that changed everything. The dawning of the Age of the Internet catapulted the speed of life into space shuttle mode and we haven’t stopped to look back. We don’t even notice what we are missing in this life. That’s how fast we are going.
Let me ask you this:
Is your heart yearning to be known?
Mine is. The problem is this pace we keep in western civilization makes it extremely difficult to be known.
Can I give you a piece of homework before I unpack more? This idea of “the pace of being known” is not an original one from me. It comes from Matt Canlis and his story. Tonight, or this weekend, when you can create the space to sit down for 36 minutes, watch “Godspeed: The Pace of Being Known.”
Stop and pause reading right here. Watch “Godspeed” - then continue reading this blog post or this content might be meaningless to you. Busyness will always be there. It never leaves. It will keep you from making the time to feed your soul. Your heart wants more from life. It’s time to slow down. Click on the photo below to watch Matt’s story. I guarantee you will watch it more than once.
It will rock your world and cause your heart to come alive.
Well, what did you think? Powerful, huh? Deep.
Living in the 21st century in western civilization where the speed of life goes at 100mph, we can go through our entire lives without truly knowing people around us - kids, neighbors, friends, co-workers - because we’re too busy and miss so much of life around us.
Maybe we would have less anxiety and depression in life if we lived at a slower pace and took the time to be known and to know others.
Anxiety looks forward to what “might be” as we compare what we have with what others have - or looks at the division going on in our country and we can’t get past it and it holds us hostage.
Depression looks to the past in what “could have been” and holds us down from moving forward.
BOTH anxiety and depression keep us from living lives of freedom. I’d be willing to bet that if we slowed our lives down and really got to know people and let others know us, we’d need less medication and have stronger, deeper relationships and the things of this world wouldn’t matter.
It all comes back to identity.
Who are you? Forget about what you do and what you think you need to obtain in this world to find lasting joy and freedom, you won’t find it. Proverbs and Ecclesiastes tells us that, right? So why do we get sucked into the fast lane of life? We have a choice. My identity is not in the life I make for myself here on earth. The Father only asks two things of us: Love Him. Love others. That’s it. He’s not about speed. This is why patience is a fruit of the spirit and one we all joke about not having. When I watched “Godspeed” I noticed that everyone seemed to be at peace with who they were, and were in no hurry to get anywhere or do anything. My heart longs for that kind of life. But what can we do when life around us is going at 100mph?
Here are ten things I came up with that will help us slow down. Feel free to add more.
Get to know your neighbors. Not just their names, or what they do, or have their kids play with yours. That’s all surface and safe stuff. Ask questions about them like where they grew up; where their family originated from; their heritage; names of their extended family members and write them down: GO DEEP. Don’t do it to check a box or do it once. Pick up the conversation again. Make it a goal to really know this person and share the same things about you.
When your week starts off in the fast lane, create some space to pull off and rest. Maybe put off that invitation to another event and sit at home reading a good book or enjoying deep and meaningful conversation with your spouse or kids.
Take a walk for an hour and decompress. Don’t think about work. Talk to the Father. Then listen.
Carve out 2-3 hours and go sit at the lake or a park and be still. Enjoy creation.
Help an elderly person you see by loading their groceries, crossing a street, or just smile at them and ask them their name and start a conversation and be present.
Call your mom or your dad just to say, “I miss you and I love you.” It will make their day. Sit and listen to whatever they want to talk about and love them in the moment. It’s not about you.
Do something that brings you life and allows your heart to slow down and be still. For me, I mow my 2-acre yard with worship music playing in my AirPods.
When you’re driving around town - it’s okay to be last. Full disclosure: I struggle with this one. Why do I care so much about “when” I get to my destination? Leave extra time and avoid changing lanes and cutting people off. In fact, let 3 people in ahead of you that are pulling out and relax and take deep breaths. The world isn’t going anywhere. (You can hold me accountable to this one!)
When you’re at a restaurant or coffee shop with someone, leave your phone in the car or turn it off. BE PRESENT. There is no Fomo in the kingdom because fear doesn’t come from God. The Accuser whispers in your ear, “You’re missing out!” When we succumb to his lie - we’re stuck at 100mph living. It’s time to walk at Godspeed.
Take a sabbath every week, whether it’s a digital fast for 1/2 day, a long hike in the woods, or just sitting alone with a journal and your Bible and listening for the voice of the Father.
