Slow-Paced Observations

When was the last time you just observed life around you. When did you slow down and just take in the sites, sounds, and textures God created? A couple of months ago I would have said it had been awhile since I "stopped and smelled the roses". However, we recently made the decision to sell our second car and now are blessed to use alternative forms of transportation.

Reducing our "fleet" to one car has meant my husband and I have had to communicate more about our daily travels. Fortunately, my husband takes the bus to work on a daily basis leaving me feel to use the car for errands and short get-away with the kids. The weekend is were we occasionally find ourselves with conflicting car use schedules and it always seems to work itself out. It really isn't a problem it just means we coordinate rides, decide to go early or late to an event, ask a friend for a ride, decide not to do an event, or use our bikes or legs and get there ourselves.

Lately, I've been walking home from church as I often work in the children's ministry and stay behind. It is isn't far...maybe 1 1/2 miles...1 3/4 miles at the most. However, when I had two cars I would have easily used both cars to attend church and never thought anything of the decision. We drive blocks to the post office, banks, etc and never really think about how fast our lives are moving. As a society, we are blessed beyond belief...pushing buttons to wash dishes, do laundry, make the morning coffee. (Thank God for those buttons!)

Walking home from church has been a huge blessing. I've slowed down and travel at the speed God created for me with my own feet. I've enjoyed the time to think about the week ahead, pray about my family, etc, but most of all I've enjoyed just listening and looking...the sounds of distant lawn mowers, the way the sun bounces off the snow on the mountain peaks, a worm wiggling across the littered sidewalk, double car garages packed to the ceiling of everything I can think of with their two cars parked in front (that one always gets me), children laughing as they draw with sidewalk chalk.

As you can read, my observations aren't always through rose-colored glasses and that is OK with me. I am being real. This time to look at the world through slow-paced observations makes me appreciate what God has granted me. I am blessed. So next Sunday, if you see me walking home feel free to honk and wave, but don't stop and ask me if I need a ride. I'm taking my time observing and soaking in the world around me through slow-paced observations....with my own two feet.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean