Slow Me Down, Lord

God has interesting ways of slowing us down.  I'm reminded of a poem I copied into a journal way back in the 60's  (that would be "the Nineteen Sixties")...

SLOW ME DOWN, LORD

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. 

Steady my hurried pace. 

Give me, amidst the day's confusion, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles 

         with the soothing music of singing streams that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. 

Teach me the art of taking "minute vacations"

...slowing down to look at a flower, 

            to chat with a friend, 

                   to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me of the fable of the hare and the tortoise; 

that the race is not always to the swift; 

that there is more to life than measuring its speed.

Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak 

and know that it grew slowly and well. 

Inspire me to send my own roots down deep into the soil of life's endearing values...

that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

Slow me down, Lord.

                                   ~~Wilferd Arlan Peterson~~

I've been coping with a little bit of dizziness.  Sometimes the world spins around me, sometimes I spin alone, and sometimes I'm just light-headed.  It has hampered my activity.  I do better sitting in a chair.  But today the sun is out, and I'm hoping to be out, too--even if only to sit in one of our comfortable outdoor chairs in the sunshine.  Several flowers are blooming out there and even MORE weeds.