Wednesday, May 23, 2012

How Patient Am I?

One line of a book made me think......."She hung up the phone." I instantly thought of the old rotary dial phones I grew up with. I instantly remembered the way it sounded to actually hang up a phone. We don't really hang up anymore. There's no real finality to it. When you don't hear that "clunk." Used to, when you hung up, you hung up. But now, the hang up may be followed by a text....."Nice talking to you....Oh, forgot to tell you....." We are totally and completely connected. And then there's Facebook and Twitter. Pinterest.

Earlier today I went visiting over at Debbie's place and she challenged me with a question: "Just how patient am  I?" I think, not very. People have told me I am very patient, and I am sometimes, depending on the situation. But lately I am surprised at just how quickly the anger can flare up when the clothing I am trying to get off the hanger wont come off. Or when I am trying to find a parking place at work and someone beats me to it.

I text while in line at the store......Not a minute to be wasted. Or I take out my phone and get caught up on Words with Friends. I wonder......I remember, how would I feel now if I had to wait for that rotary dial to finish dialing that number. I hear it in my mind, and sometimes I wish I could hear it again. I remember my Grandmother's dial was literally worn down she used it so much. She would have loved texting.

The hang up. The pause. The reflecting on the call that just finished. It seems there are fewer and fewer pauses anymore. That's why I think it's important we set out to create them in our lives.

That was the whole idea of doing my blog. Creating a quiet place of rest, carving out some time to meet with God.......getting out of the fast lane of life for just awhile. We need it more and more. I am thinking that our whole society, while dedicated to saving time, actually makes us savor time less.

I think we need more pauses. What do you think?

8 comments:

  1. Me - I can't live without the pauses, they're what keep me sane. Don't get me wrong, I love the get up and go of life. I love having 30 things to do at once, a dozen conversations happening at the same time, and the drive to get things DONE. I love that I can call, text, e-mail, or tweet. Everything is so much more INSTANT now than it was when I was a kid - and that's kind of awesome in it's way.

    But I absolutely TREASURE the quiet times now, and if I go for more than a few days without them things start to turn south. There's something about shutting the door to my place, turning off the phone, and settling into the quiet of a book or a puzzle that breathes life into me. When the world gets too noisy for too long my soul starts to frazzle. Its a constant in my life - I've always needed my "alone time". I can't survive without it =)

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  2. Oh there's such a sweetness in the pauses - in the 'hang up times'.
    I can't believe how peaceful it was to go through a move and not have internet & phone hooked up for nearly a week. We actually had time to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of everything that we typically miss. Sitting on the front porch just to enjoy the neighborhood, picking up that book and actually finishing an entire chapter, 'listening' to the rhythm of life. Aaaaahhh. Yep - much needed!

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  3. Lori, when you wrote that you were surprised at how quickly the anger can flare up ...I could identify with you. My life has been so stressful these past few years. I so want to slow down and yet I must work. I love what I'm doing but there are so many other things to be done and just not enough time. I often write about the things I'm struggling with. Just the other day another car honked at me when I didn't turn quickly enough for him and I have to admit I was so surprised at what came to the surface. I thought "now where did that come from?". I thought I no longer acted that way as a Christian.

    But then I remembered how important it is to abide in Him. Lately, my quiet times have been cut short and it reflects in my attitude and response to things outside of my control. I always say that we can't always choose what happens in our lives but we can choose our response; that's Heart Choices.

    Thank you for linking to me with this great post. I'm looking forward to the end of the school year and having time to finish moving and taking more time to be still.

    Blessings and love,
    Debbie

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  4. Hey Debbie! Good to hear from you. I will be praying for your move, I have moved several times over the years too many! I always say the next move is the final one, but you know how that goes! My neighbors are moving Saturday, I will miss them. So hard to find good neighbors! Lori

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  5. Totally agree. I find myself impatient, too. And I force myself not to be as I don't want others to feel bad. I think technology is bad that way where we lose our ability to pause. People are getting together less. We're more likely to reach out online than in person because we've made friendship convenient instead of meaningful. I think I just wrote a blog.

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  6. Oh girlfriend, we do need to pause.

    Big time.

    I love how you do this -- you just take little things and make them meditations on your walk with HIM.

    What a gift that is...

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  7. Harriet: Lots of little things rolling around in my head LOL! Thankfully I don't share them all! Ever find yourself stopping the microwave when it only has a few more seconds and you don't want to wait?? Yes, I think there are lots more posts here!

    Thank you all for your comments!

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  8. Hi Lori,
    Thank you for your words of encouragement, caring ways and wisdom!! I like this post.
    I truly love your slice of Heaven, a peaceful corner of your world, sweetheart.
    Yes!! I agree with you. We all need to pause for a moment and think. It is wise...
    My dear mom, dad, aunts and all my family used to have rotary phones in different colours, just like I did when I first got married.
    I really miss talking to all of them, because they dwell in Heaven now. I've just felt like calling my dear auntie, my mom and dad...
    Thank you, Lori for sharing your peace, love and caring ways!! God bless you, sweetie!!
    Best Regards,
    Poet Starry.

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