Elimination of Hurry

I have just had the incredible opportunity of taking a 2-month (9-week) sabbatical break from work during May and June. It was a wonderful time to rest, reflect and consider the future.

I had great plans during the build-up as to how I was going to use the time – in the end, not much of the plans were fulfilled as the time took a different course; this all being part of helping me with my reflections.

One part of the plan that did happen was to fly off to the sun for a couple of weeks on the morning after my last day of work (no opportunity for delay!). I had volunteered, within the team, before I left to write 1-minute reads and other articles about collaboration.

So, I left for the holiday prepared for that with some good reading on the subject to brush up on what others are writing about. I got to page 10 of the first book and have not picked it up again since – although I will in the coming weeks.

My wife was reading a book which happened to reference another book called ‘The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry’ by John Mark Comer. She told me I should read it, so I was obedient, downloaded a Kindle copy and I was hooked. It perfectly described my life in a hurry. Going as fast as I could at everything I did, always planning with long lists of things to achieve and working as hard as I could.

Reading this book set the tone for how I approached the rest of my sabbatical break and is now informing how I choose to live and work since my return.

Interestingly I have mentioned this book to so many people since and the significant majority have responded with ‘Oh yes, I have read that.’ But and it is a big, but no one could tell me how it had impacted their lives and what they had done differently.

The book has four specific key practices: a day of rest, silence, and solitude, simplifying, and slowing.

John Mark Comer is a Christian pastor. So, he had written the book from that perspective however, the principles are solid and applicable to all.

I will leave you this week with the four practices to reflect on for yourself, and next week I will say more about how I am adopting them into my life and the impact it is having.

Just remember, there is no need to hurry!