Taking the Time

Today I was thinking that out of all the places I have lived or stayed New York is one of the slowest paced places with the exception of the Bahamas (kind of hard to beat that one). Since I haven't lived that many places my scope is pretty limited but the pace is different here. In NY people are not necessarily lazy (though there is that type too) but more of a slow steady pace. Growing up and in my current residence there isn't this push to get everything done right now. There is always time to take to build a friendship. If you are in the grocery store and you see someone that you know it is only polite to stop and talk with them. What should take a maximum of ten minutes takes 40 because you stand and talk with someone that you haven't seen lately. Every time I come back to NY time seems to stand still. The rest of the world moves at a rapid pace but here in the more agriculture based areas time just slowly progresses. The days go by at a nice pace and the important things are kept in perspective. Maybe I'm being a bit nostalgic and it is like this for everyone when they are "home." I can't answer that but even though I'm not living with my parents anymore and I'm in a different part of the state there is still this standstill of time. I really wish the rest of the world were like this. More like stopping and spending time with each other. Taking the time out of every day to be with people and to care about them. To take the time to talk to an old friend and not worry about all the laundry list of items that have to be done right now because ... in the scope of things is it really that important? I understand we are busy but maybe as a whole we are busy with the wrong things? I'm not saying neglect everything and call up everyone that you have neglected over the years but take the time to spend time with people and show them that you care.

I used to not take the time so much but it was my freshman year in collage that really helped me to understand this. I had a class and my homework wasn't quite finished but I was on my way early to make it to the building the class was in and finish my homework. On the way I saw a good friend I hadn't seen in a while and I stopped and chatted with her. I was on time for the class but my homework wasn't finished. Even though I don't remember the particulars of the conversation I do remember that it was a pleasant time spent with a friend and well worth the unfinished homework. This probably hits home for me more than for other people because I believe on some level that this is my love language. Some of the most painful memories I have are from people repeatedly deciding that other things were more important than having a conversation.

I'm so glad that I have a friend like Jesus is always there to listen and to spend time with. I want to be like Jesus and not be so caught up in my own affairs that I can't take the time to listen to someone. To stop and show that I care about them. In heaven it won't matter how much I got accomplished, in the sense of obtaining lands and houses and goods, but how many relationships did I build and point them to a relationship with their heavenly Father.