Hurry

Merril and I often visit a particular bookstore.  Invariably we both end up buying a book or books.  Even if we did not go there for some.  Like last time.  I had no reason to be there, but Merril needed to pick up something.  So I went in and wandered about.  I saw a lot of good stuff and sure enough I bought a book by an author I really like.
Yet I said to Merril, “I think I bought the wrong book.”  I said that because I had seen a book that I thought I should have bought called, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.”  I am sure what I purchased will be good at sometime, but right now I am happy to let it sit unread.
Long story short someone donated books to the church we go to.  I really wanted to go through them to see what may be good for the library we run.  Knowing the people that donated the books I thought there may be some we should keep.
I was not wrong.  And the good part for me was the book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” was one of the books.  That is the book I am reading at the moment.
A line I read I really like.  “The speed of Love.”  It was said by a Japanese guy.  The point being made is that I am never at my best when I am hurrying.  Sometimes in 911 moments hurry is right.  Yet those moments are for most of us the exception and not the rule.
It is not business the author is against.  It is being too busy that is a problem.  Our society seems to run on being too busy.  Yet when too busy for extended periods I can so easily lose touch with myself and others.
He says and I feel it is my lived experience, think of yourself when you were in a hurry.  At that moment were you exhibiting love?  His experience (and mine) suggests no.  The author says, “love is painfully time consuming” and demands what so many contend - that we are “in the moment.”  Our best moments are when we give friends, our spouse, kids “quality time.”  The author says hurry and love are oil and water.
Merril and I are trying to simplify or lives.  It is not that we do not want to busy.  We just do not want to be too busy.  To me that is the quickest way to burn out I know of.
I know I am a work in progress and sometimes get it wrong and sometimes get it right.  The thing for me is knowing what the right is and heading in that direction.