A hidden blessing in this season of quarantine, and how long it's gone on, is that many of us may have some chances to pursue new priorities and set new routines in our lives as the culture around us establishes a return to "normal." So inspired by that thought, let me recommend The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. This book exposes the "hurry sickness" that we're all afflicted with on some level, and encourages us to set a new priority for quiet, for margin, for God-centered rest, and ultimately for health in our routines. We too-often find ourselves too busy to make time for relationships, or even for quality time to sit and talk with our own kids. We can't pursue God or others more deeply, let alone grow in Christlikeness if we have no attention left after all our busyness and hurry.
Listen to this quote,
"What you give your attention to is the person you become. Put another way: the mind is the portal to the soul, and what you fill your mind with will shape the trajectory of your character. In the end, your life is no more than the sum of what you gave your attention to."
Spoiler alert: the Epilogue has some great, potentially life-changing tips for establishing more quiet and rest in our lives, some of which center on our phones/devices. Don't skip these!
Pick up a copy of this book, or actually let me recommend the audiobook if you have a spare Audible credit, or can secure a borrow of this on Overdrive. It's very good.
Let's start to plan for our new routines once our lives get back to "normal," once we get back to work, and once our kids go back to school. And hey, we have the summer to establish a new, BETTER normal than maybe we had before.
