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I’m in a hurry to get things done . . .
One of my favorite songs to sing along with the radio is by the group Alabama. In 1992 they released the song “I’m In A Hurry.” The song details a man who rushes and rushes until life is no longer fun. He’s so busy all the time, makes sure his car is fast enough, and can’t imagine arriving in second place. That song hits home with me because there are too many times that I “rush and rush until life’s no fun.”
About a month ago, I was hurrying to the storage unit in Rossville. It was merely one bullet item from a long to-do list for the day. As I entered into Rossville, I failed to notice the sign until it was too late. I looked up in the mirror and there was one of Rossville’s finest. And we all know how those Fayette County cities like to make extra income.
I was just one of the 112,000 people that received a speeding ticket by the end of that day in our country and one of the 41 million by the end of the year.
We think we have to speed through life. Life is full of meetings, checking our schedules, finding time, getting there first, and leaving first. That’s not how God intended for us to go through life.
From growing up in the church, I’ve seen many Christians that don’t understand how to enjoy life. Our main focus should be on the life to come, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy life now. God didn’t place us here to be miserable, lack joy, and rush through life. Solomon said that we must find enjoyment in the few days of life that God has given us (Eccl. 5:18).James said that our life is brief like a vapor (James 4:14). The days are few and we should enjoy them as we can.
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the phrase, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” While that may be true, I think time flies no matter what you’re doing. Psalm 90:10 says, The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty… they are soon gone, and we fly away. How many times do we say, “It seems like yesterday that I was…?” Life is short—we should enjoy it.
Ecclesiastes 3 says there are times to laugh, times to love, and times for peace. How often do our days consist of those things? Too often our days consist of times to be there first, times to be fast, and no time at all.
Bonnie Ware, an Australian nurse who cared for dying people, wrote down the top 5 regrets of those people. Number 5 was “I wish I had let myself be happier.” Number 4 was “I wish stayed in touch with my friends.” And number 2 was “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
Maybe we should listen to the regrets of those who have been there and done that too fast. Psalm 90:12 says to “number our days.” Our days are few.
Life is short like a flower that comes out and withers away (Job 14:2). Stopping and smelling the roses isn’t for me, but we can all benefit from spending time with those we love, enjoying the days we have, and laughing a lot. Psalm 32:11 says, “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
Let’s live life the way God intended.
