Eliminating Hurry

 

One of the books I’ve read this month is John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. I’ll tell you more about the book later this month, but today I want to share a quote from the book that stuck with me.

                “The goal isn’t just to declutter your closet or garage but to declutter your life. To clear away the myriad of distractions that ratchet up our anxiety, feed us an endless stream of mind-numbing drivel, and anesthetize us to what really matters.”

                Strong words, but they hold meaning.

                Ryan and I have done a good job (at least in my opinion) in recent years of decluttering our house. A bunch of moves will do that to you. So will moving into a smaller house. We’re still in the process of carefully combing through our possessions and letting go of the things that don’t hold deep meaning for us.

                But that’s just the stuff.

                There’s still the life.

                And that’s the part we are working on pretty intentionally right now.

                We are working to evaluate the things we commit to before we say yes. Are we saying yes because we feel obligated? Guilty? Or do we really want to say yes? Are we filling our days with distractions and busyness? Are we always doing and never being?

                Empty squares on the calendar are okay. They are great, in fact. Nights at home are okay. (Great, in fact!) Naps are okay. (They’re great, actually.)

                And so we begin the process of eliminating hurry – ruthlessly – by decluttering life. I’ve been thankful for a more-decluttered-than-usual summer, and we’re doing our best to keep moving in that direction.

                We have much to learn about this. But less really can be more. Less busyness. Fewer commitments. More quiet.