Instant age. That’s precisely what we are living in. We are quick to set our goals; and in an instant do we want to achieve them. And then once you reach your point of success, there’s a desire to dream more and attain more. Often during these times of running around life teaches lessons that make us stop and think.
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I remember a moment of success in my life when I was on a professional high and early morning I was rushing to my workplace. A part of my work travel comprised walking along this one-way narrow lane. Because this small stretch of lane is cramped for width, at a time it allowed only one person to pass through, while others followed close behind. In rush hours, passersby were required to stroll fast to avoid getting sandwiched between people.
Now seconds before I was about to enter this lane, an old man stepped in. He was carrying a seemingly heavy bag and owing to his age, his movements were very slow and his strides were small. Needless to say, I was stuck! I was frustrated that I could not overtake him nor speak anything in my defense. At the end of it, I had no choice but to slow down and walk at his speed.
That old man taught me two important lessons that day, worth remembering when you are on a high:
1. SLOW DOWN: Yes, you heard me right. Take time to slow down and be sensitive to the needs of others, slow down to enjoy the little joys in your life, slow down to cherish your success, slow down to spend more time with your loved ones, slow down to thank God for his innumerable blessings….slow down. Let’s stop taking life for granted.
2. HELP OTHERS FIND REST: The Bible speaks of a time when Joshua was leading the Israelite tribes into the Promised Land and they had to cross river Jordon to reach there. However there were three tribes – Reubenites, Gadites and half-tribe of Manasseh , who had received a promise from Moses, their previous leader, to settle on the east side of Jordon itself. This means that the three tribes had already reached their Promised Land- the destination they had strived to reach for the past forty years. It was a time to celebrate, a time to rest. However this is what Joshua instructed to them: “All the fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest as He has done for you” (Joshua 1:12-15, NIV, Bible)
This is what you ought to do when you are on a high—when you are at your best, ‘fighting fit’ and ‘fully armed’. Why not help others around you so that they can reach their Promised Land?
Coming back to the old man in my pathway, realizing he was blocking my way, he quietly stopped, leaned on one side and signaled to me to overtake. And yes, I did step ahead, but with the offer to help the old man to carry his bag, and slowed down to walk at his pace. I had learned my lessons.