"Punching Hurry in the Mouth"

Proverbs 21:5 Common English Bible 5 The plans of the diligent end up in profit, but those who hurry end up with loss.

INTRODUCTION

ONE OF THE ULTIMATE SOURCES FOR WEALTH AND ALL THINGS ASSOCIATED WITH GAINING IT, CREATING IT, &

PRESERVING IT....FORBES.COM HAS A WRITER, TRACY BOWERS

WHO WRITES ABOUT WORK, WORK-LIFE FULFILLMENT AND THE FUTURE OF WORK.....SHE NOTICED SOMETHING

THAT MORE AND MORE THEOLOGIANS AND SPIRITUAL FOLKS NOTICE TOO.....SHE WROTE THIS ABOUT THE WAYS

WE USE OUR TIME TO BE “PRODUCTIVE”:

If you want to be more productive, there are plenty of readings and recommendations available to you.

Gurus are everywhere who will help you figure out how to fit

more tasks into less time. But busy isn’t best and the hustle and hurry of doing so much detracts from

happiness and fulfillment.

THEOLOGIAN DR KIRK BYRON JONES GOES ON TO POSE THE PROBLEMATIC POSTURE OF HURRY THIS WAY:

Hurry is not an innocent and inevitable consequence of modern life. Chronic hurry is a serious malady of

mind, heart, and soul putting at risk our relationship with God, each other, and ourselves. The

theologian

Richard J. Mouw writes in an article entitled “Humility, Hope, and the Divine Slowness” that “we have

God’s permission to take our time.” Can we imagine that this statement is true, and if so, can we give

ourselves the same permission?

IMAGINE WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE GOD’S PERMISSION....NOT TO HURRY BUT RATHER TO TAKE YOUR TIME........ST.

PETER WHO WALKED WITH JESUS.....ST. PETER WHOSE FAITH SEEMED TO COME AT A DELIBERATE

PACE....RECORDED THIS BEAUTIFUL REMINDER OF THE LORD, OUR GOD WHO IS PATIENT AND MEASURED AND

WANTING THE BEST FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF GOD.......

2 Peter 3:9 NRSV

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

ON CHICAGO’S SOUTH SIDE, NOT TOO FAR FROM WHERE I GREW UP THE CATHOLICS NAMED A SCHOOL IN HONOR

OF ONE THEIR GREAT SAINTS OF THE CHURCH.....A MAN KNOWN FOR HIS DEVOTION TO SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND

THE ORDINATION OF CLERGY ZEALOUS TO SERVE THE LORD, OUR GOD......ST. FRANCIS DE SALES REFLECTED ON

THE POSTURE OF HURRY AND HASTE AND GAVE TO THE WORLD THIS MEMORABLE REFLECTION:

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.

Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.

What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?”

JESUS’ OWN HELP WITH HURRYING

ONE COMMENTATOR ON OUR TEXT THIS MORNING TACKLES THE LESSONS OF THIS BRILLIANT PIECE OF

SCRIPTURE THIS WAY WRITING:

This verse contrasts carefully prepared work with last-minute decisions and sloppy choices. Those who

think before they act, and who think well, tend to see better results than those who act on impulse or at the

last moment. As a proverb, this is meant as a general statement, not an absolute guarantee. Attentive

people can suffer loss, and careless people can stumble into success. Common sense, however, supports

the idea that being lazy or negligent in planning typically leads to disaster

AND WHEN WE TURN TO JESUS’ OWN TEACHING IN THE PARABLES WE SEE JESUS REINFORCE THE LESSONS OF

THIS PROVERB AND TAKE THOSE LESSONS TO A NEW LEVEL TOO......

Jesus references the difference between careful thought and senseless impulse when speaking of what it meant to

become His follower. He asked: "For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the

cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:28). Starting to build without planning might lead to ridicule

if the builder only had enough funds for the foundation (Luke 14:29–30). Jesus also referred to a king who

considers whether his soldiers can defeat a force twice their size. Usually, a wise ruler would negotiate for peace (Luke 14:31–32). Even when it comes to responding to Jesus' call to discipleship, a purely emotional reaction is unlikely to lead to

anything but failure. Diligent thought about the cost of discipleship, leading a person to respond positively to

Jesus' call, is far more likely to lead to loyalty and growth.

WISDOM ABOUT HURRY FROM OTHER SOURCES & PLACES

THERE IS A BLESSED STORY THAT COMES TO US FROM THE JEWISH, HASSIDIC TRADITION THAT SAYS:

The Rabbi of Berdichev saw a man running down the street.

He asked the man, "Why are you hurrying so?"    "I'm rushing to find my

livelihood," the man answered.    "And how do you know," the rabbi asked, "that your livelihood

is running ahead of you? Maybe it's behind you, and all you need to do is stop running

and it will catch up to you."

Macrina Wiederkehr WHO TRAVELED THROUGHOUT AMERICA AND CANADA SPREADING HER SPIRITUAL, CHRISTIAN

MESSAGE OF CONTEMPLATION, FAITH SHARING, SILENCE AND CREATING SPRITUAL RITUALS WORKED IN OUR

TIMES......GOD CALLED HER HOME IN APRIL OF 2020 BUT NOT BEFORE SHE GAVE THE WORLD THIS GEM...

We are naturally reverent beings, but much of our natural reverence has been torn away from us because

we have been born into a world that hurries. There is no time to be reverent with the earth or with each

other. We are all hurrying into progress. And for all our hurrying we lose sight of our true nature a little

more each day.

A WELSH PROVERB SAYS IT SIMPLY THIS WAY:

MORE HURRY, MORE OBSTACLES

AND THERE IS AN AFRICAN PROVERB THAT GOES ON TO SAY:

The cow that is in a hurry to go to America will come back as corned beef.

In our pushing and rushing, HERE IN AMERICA, many of us have no listing, leave no place, for patience. WE HAVE

TO

DECIDE TO BE COUNTER CULTURAL IF WE ARE TO EXPERIENCE THE BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS OF PATIENCE AND

SLOWING DOWN.......WE HAVE TO DECIDE TO PUNCH HURRY IN THE MOUTH.....TO KEEP IT AT BAY, TO EXPERIENCE

IT ALL AROUND US AND YET STEP BACK FROM IT AS WE REDEEM OUR TIME......

SO, BELOVEDS, REDEEM YOUR TIME.....REMEMBERING THAT HASTE MAKES WASTE......

AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WHEN WE KICK SPEED TO CURB WE REMEMBER THE WISDOM AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF

GALATIANS WHERE IT DOES NOT TELL US THAT SPEED AND/OR HURRY IS ONE OF THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT,

RATHER GALATIANS 5:22 READS:

Galatians 5:22 NRSV

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,

SO, BELOVEDS, REDEEM YOUR TIME......KNOWING WE DON’T HAVE TO MAKE AN IDOL OF SPEED.......

CONCLUSION

ONE OF THE PLACES WHERE PUNCHING HURRY IN THE MOUTH CAN BE MOST HELPFUL TO US WAS NOTICED AND

NAMED BY DR. KIRK BYRON JONES.....WHEN YOU APPLY PATIENCE TO A PLACE WHERE HURRY MAY HAVE

PREVIOUSLY PLAYED ITSELF OUT AS SIN AND SEPARATION.....YOU CAN SEE GREATER SATISFACTION,

SOULFULNESS & RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT OF THAT PATIENCE YOU EXTEND.....

Family communication is an area often lacking patience. Contrary winds of bitterness and strife would blow

less often if we took a few moments longer to listen to each other. Nowhere is looking without seeing and

hearing without listening more widespread than in the home. Proximity breeds familiarity; familiarity

breeds assumption; assumption breeds impatience. We end up evidencing little patience for the people and

concerns that are of utmost importance to us.

Outside the home, patience is equally as important. Patience is a necessary tool for living in a world

characterized by increasing complexity and paradox. Without patience, despair and cynicism become our

most preferred options. Patience—alert waiting—readies us for creative breakthrough and imaginative

problem solving.

PUNCHING HURRY IN THE MOUTH HELPS US BUILD STRENGTH INTO OUR FAMILY RELATIONS AND APPROACH

COMPLEXITY AND PARADOX IN OUR CULTURE WITH HOPE RATHER THAN HELPLESSNESS........

PUNCHING HURRY IN THE MOUTH HELPS US COMMAND AND CULTIVATE MORE CREATIVITY AND

IMAGINATION

WHEN IT COMES TO PROBLEM SOLVING AND SPREADING THE GRACE AND MERCIES OF OUR GOD.......

KAYLA MINGUEZ, WRITING FOR MEDIUM.COM PROPOSES 2 THINGS TO COMBAT HURRY....IN OTHER WORDS TO

PUNCH HURRY IN THE MOUTH.....I CLOSE WITH THESE 2 THINGS EVEN AS WE CLOSE OUT THIS SERIES....REDEEM

YOUR TIME........

When you stop rushing and slow down, you enjoy life more. Things are more interesting. You worry less.

You care for others more. You make fewer mistakes because you’re more focused.

SLOWING DOWN IS A SPIRITUAL ACT....IT IS AN ACT OF TRUSTING THE DIVINE ONE WHO CREATED ALL AND

RESTED

ON THE SABBATH......SLOWING DOWN IS GETTING CLOSER TO FACING LIFE WITH THE KIND OF PACE JESUS DID…

FOR OUR SAVIOR LIVED AT A PACE THAT WAS NOT THE SAME AS THOSE RUSHING AROUND HIM........Jesus’

alternative sacred pace, WAS a pace characterized by peace, patience, and attentiveness.

KAYLA MINGUEZ GOES ON, BELOVEDS, TO SUGGEST WE USE THE WORD SLOW AS AN ACROSTIC TO REMIND US TO

TRULY CHANGE OUR PACE.....AND PUNCH HURRY IN THE MOUTH.........SHE ENCOURAGES READERS TO:

S. — See that you are rushing.

You’re feeling a little stressed and hurried, like you should be pushing harder to get through whatever you’re doing

right now. See that. Notice it. Recognize it.

L. — Live that moment.

What are you doing at that exact moment? Stop thinking about what it is that you want to get to (you want this

project out of the way, you want to get home faster), and just live in the moment.

Experience and focus on what’s in front of you.

O. — Open awareness.

As you continue doing what you’re doing, pay attention to what thoughts and feelings cross your mind. If you keep

feeling rushed, just be aware of it without judging that feeling.

If you need to, repeat the S. & L. steps to calm down. Then keep an open awareness, notice what crosses your mind,

and recognize these thoughts without judging them.

W. — Wait.

After you’ve finished what you’re doing, take a few minutes to wait and relax before moving onto anything else.

Even if you take your time on one project, jumping to a new project immediately after is still rushing, in its own

way.

Take some time to wait between tasks. Drink a glass of water, watch the sky…whatever you need to do. Just relax.

After a few minutes, if you’re feeling calm and unhurried, slowly move on to whatever else you need to do, and

enjoy that process as well.

FOR SOME OF YOU, THIS MORNING, YOU’VE ALREADY FIGURED OUT WAYS TO SLOW DOWN…AND YOU ALREADY

HAVE YOUR TESTIMONY......YET FOR OTHERS THIS MAY BE THE BEGINNING…A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT LIFE…

AND AS YOU BEGIN, I WANT YOU TO KNOW AND CELEBRATE

YOU’LL BE IN THE COMPANY OF THE MESSIAH WHO LOVES YOU AND WANTS THE BEST FOR YOU, WHO DIED THAT

YOU MAY HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY........FOR YOU, THIS IS A WAY TO REDEEM YOUR TIME, TO

RECLAIM YOUR WALK WITH JESUS........PULL YOURSELF OUT OF THE PIT THAT HURRY CREATES

AND MAY CHRIST JESUS GUIDE US AND FIND US FAITHFUL WHEN HE RETURNS.....LET US PRAY......