You don't have to be in Africa long to recognize that the pace of life is much different than here. Although they do plenty of working, there isn't the same push and urgency to get everything done right now. One night as our group was walking through the town of Musanze, one of my new friends pointed out to me how much we miss when we take life too quickly. He said that we get to live each day once. I have heard that before, but this time it stuck with me. To slow our pace, even just a bit changes our perspective. When we rush and our goal is to accomplish all the things we think are important for any given time, our focus is us and our schedule. As we slow down, we begin to see opportunities Christ gives us that we could have easily missed. Whether this is an chance to serve someone, nurture a relationship, or become an answer to prayer- I don't want to miss it!
Another side of this that hits home with me has to do with being active in my faith. Maybe you are able to slow down and see things that God is putting in front of you, but you fail to act. I have been there too. For many reasons- fear, laziness, feeling inadequate- I have let opportunities pass where I could have been a blessing and used by God for His purposes. Recognizing the chance to do something meaningful is pointless if we have no follow through with action.
So I have decided that I want to stop observing life and get caught up in living it! Not by the world's defintion of finding happiness in taking what I want, but by making the most of what has been given to me by God in each day. I will not get this day back so I have to live it like the real thing- no dress rehearsals!
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