Monday, April 18, 2016

April 18, 2016 - Slow Down


I find it almost humorous to watch talented, athletic young players as they go against seasoned veterans… It almost always ends with some humbling of the young bucks; and they don’t understand what happened to them…
 
One great place to see this is at a local YMCA when some 18 year old studs are busy throwing down dunks, showing their mad handles, hooting and hollering about how they are going to dominate… and meanwhile some 35 or 40 year old guy waits quietly to get a game rolling and proceeds to methodically dismantle them. The “old” guy doesn’t waste moves and energy, doesn’t feel the need to tell everyone what he is going to do, and simply goes to the right places, doing the right things. (I still find as I approach 50 that I can for a short time control and even dominate the court against the young bucks… but I emphasize “for a short time” – I give new meaning to “one and done!”)
 
This is true even at the professional level as we see seasoned veterans being patient with the ball and letting plays develop… They wait for the double team to come in order to kick the pass to the open man… They save the great cross-over or behind-the-back or between the legs moves for when it actually creates space… They avoid playing chase on defense and instead simply get where they know the opponent wants to go… They “play slow” in wait for the lane of opportunity to “go fast”… They play smart! They play according to Coach Wooden’s creed to “play quick but not hurry!”
 
The same holds true in life! We need to slow down and let things develop… We need to get a good read on what is going on around us… We need to allow time for the Lord to give direction…. (Line from an old Petra song: “so hurry up and wait upon the Lord!”)
 
Today take a breath… slow down… see what the Lord has for you…
 
Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.
 
Proverbs 19:2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.

No comments: