Slow Down!

This is the fifth attempt at this post. If three times are a charm, I’m working on my second charm! Many ideas have swirled this past week all culminating around this one thought, “slow down.” Originally I was going to visit the familiar topics of appreciating the seeming insignificant things or paying attention to details, but neither of these ideas congealed completely, in both cases I start to write, then edit, write some more, edit some more…etc.

Although my readers won’t see, I have taken pen in hand to write this post. Last week I was appalled when I discovered my handwriting was deteriorating to hen scratch. My notes looked more like a doctor’s prescription than notes. Many people down through the years have complimented me on my penmanship, to which I proudly proclaim I was raised by a writer and teacher! To think my handwriting had declined so severely was appalling and disheartening to say the least. I will confess handwriting this post is time consuming and tiring to the muscles in my wrist and forearm. It is taking discipline to remain seated and focused on this task.

Slowing down is not a virtue extolled by our western society. We are pressured to work efficiently, which often means taking short cuts. Despite all the messages from Health professionals about taking time for ourselves, we don’t eat right, exercise, rest or enjoy relationships. Despite all the messages encouraging people to work in a quality manner we often find (at least I do) mistakes and shoddy workmanship. I’m guilty to wanting things yesterday and being testy when I don’t get what I want when I want it; shame on me! This past weekend I was given the gift of a French press, for those who are unfamiliar; it is a coffeemaker of sorts. The original impetus of this post came from the press. I realized making coffee in the press takes work, takes time, and takes effort! I have to grind the beans, boil the water, pour the boiling water into the carafe, wait for it to steep then plunge the grounds to the bottom, there are few to no shortcuts to this process, but the end result is worth the effort. The quality of the brew is virtually unsurpassed.

Just like handwriting this post, making coffee in a press brings a sense of satisfaction that no computer or drip coffeemaker can bring. I’m not about to stop drinking drip coffee or using my computer to write blog posts but I think I will take more time to breathe and focus on quality. I have made it to the end of this post without moving (other than to reach for the dictionary.) I have written this without the use of grammar check or the word processer pull down box for synonyms. Scripture tells us to “be still and know…” It also shows us examples of withdrawing for times of rest; even GOD rested on the seventh day after completing a quality job.

Do what you will with this, I’m going to make a conscious effort to work efficiently but with quality, even if it means taking a little extra time. Nothing is worth doing if you don’t do it right. Of course this is my opinion and if you stop by, you won’t need $2.50 to get a cup of my brew, just the time to wait for it.