As I have shared many times before, I grew up on a farm down in Georgia. After school, however, my career largely took me away from rural life. Having now semi-retired and moved back out into the country, I will tell you that I never realized just how much I missed this world and life.
As I was reflecting on these things earlier today while out walking, the Lord brought to my remembrance a story once told by Paul W. Powell. It seems that two brothers from New York got tired of the fast lane of city life; so they bought a 50-acre farm in Texas. After a few weeks they decided they needed a mule to plow with so they got in their flatbed truck and drove down to a neighbor’s farm to see if he had a mule to sell.
The neighbor told them people in Texas didn’t use mules for plowing anymore; but he could not resist the opportunity to have a little fun with the city slickers. He pointed to a watermelon patch and said, “I don’t have a mule, but I do have some mule eggs. Maybe you’d like to buy a couple and hatch your own. They said, “We don’t need that mule till the spring so we’ll do that. We’ll take two.”
They bought the melons, placed them on the back of their truck and headed down the bumpy road toward home. They were almost there when they hit a huge bump and one of the watermelons bounced off the back of the truck, hit the road, and burst open. Seeing what happened, the driver stopped the truck and turned around to retrieve the “mule egg.”
Meanwhile, a big ol’ Texas jack rabbit came hopping by, saw the melon, and began to enjoy it. When the brothers saw the long ears and the furry back, they shouted, “Look, that egg has hatched. Let’s get that mule.”
Well, of course, the jack rabbit took off at lightning speed, as the New Yorkers hotly pursued. They gave the chase everything they had, but to no avail. After about thirty minutes chase, they sat down exhausted; and one of the brothers said, “I give up. We’re never going to catch that mule.”
To which the other brother replied, “Me too, but I think it’s just as well, I’m not sure I wanted to plow that hard and fast anyway!”
For my part, moving to the country has been very good. Among other things, perhaps the most important thing it has done for me is to remind me of the importance of slowing down a little.
A few years ago, the Grammy award winning Country Music Group, “Alabama”, had a hit song that comprised of these words…
“I'm in a hurry to get things done;
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die;
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.
Don't know why I have to drive so fast;
My car has nothing to prove.
It's not new;
But it'll do zero to sixty in five point two.
Can't be late, I leave in plenty of time;
Shakin' hands with the clock.
I can't stop;
I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock.
Oh, I hear a voice,
That says I'm running behind,
Better pick up my pace;
It's a race; and there ain't no room for someone in second place.
I'm in a hurry to get things done;
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die;
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.”
Can you relate to these words? I know I can. And my suspicion is that I am not alone. Even in the Bible, we find people who were so rushed, so busy, that they all but missed the more important things of life. One such example is found in Luke 10:38-42, where we read…
38Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Like Martha, I spent a good portion of my professional life busily attending to details. I suppose I was reasonably good at it. I rarely failed to cross the appropriate “t” or dot the appropriate “i”. After all, any responsible pastor who is “worth his salt” will do much the same, will he not?
But I now see that, more often that I care to admit, the consequence of what Jesus called “worrying and bothering about so many things” was that I may have been moving so fast and so busily from one detail to another that I failed to focus on the “good part”.
These days, I have chosen to heed the admonition of Psalm 46:10, which says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” I’m glad I now have; for clearly, “life in the slow lane” has its advantages. Trust me, I am learning this great truth daily!
SOURCES:
Joke: http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=146507, p.39.
Lyrics: https://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/alabama/im-in-a-hurry-and-dont-know-why-4186.html.
Scriptures:
https://biblehub.com/context/luke/10-38.htm;
https://biblehub.com/psalms/46-10.htm.
NOTE:
Alas! God’s timing is impeccable! As I was preparing to post this blog, “Class Reunion”, Season 3, Episode 20, of “The Andy Griffith Show” was being aired. In this particular episode, Andy and Barney stumble upon their old yearbook, and decide to organize their twentieth High School reunion. Aa a result, Andy's old flame, Sharon DeSpain, comes back into town; whereupon she and Andy pick up right where they left off, in the garden outside.
Both wonder whatever happened to their earlier relationship until it finally occurs to them that what separated them in high school is what still separates them. Sharon wants the bright lights and big city; while Andy is perfectly happy to stay right where he is in the little town of Mayberry. The truth being conveyed is that there is much to be said for living out one’s life out in a simple time and place and simple manner.
As I was reflecting on these things earlier today while out walking, the Lord brought to my remembrance a story once told by Paul W. Powell. It seems that two brothers from New York got tired of the fast lane of city life; so they bought a 50-acre farm in Texas. After a few weeks they decided they needed a mule to plow with so they got in their flatbed truck and drove down to a neighbor’s farm to see if he had a mule to sell.
The neighbor told them people in Texas didn’t use mules for plowing anymore; but he could not resist the opportunity to have a little fun with the city slickers. He pointed to a watermelon patch and said, “I don’t have a mule, but I do have some mule eggs. Maybe you’d like to buy a couple and hatch your own. They said, “We don’t need that mule till the spring so we’ll do that. We’ll take two.”
They bought the melons, placed them on the back of their truck and headed down the bumpy road toward home. They were almost there when they hit a huge bump and one of the watermelons bounced off the back of the truck, hit the road, and burst open. Seeing what happened, the driver stopped the truck and turned around to retrieve the “mule egg.”
Meanwhile, a big ol’ Texas jack rabbit came hopping by, saw the melon, and began to enjoy it. When the brothers saw the long ears and the furry back, they shouted, “Look, that egg has hatched. Let’s get that mule.”
Well, of course, the jack rabbit took off at lightning speed, as the New Yorkers hotly pursued. They gave the chase everything they had, but to no avail. After about thirty minutes chase, they sat down exhausted; and one of the brothers said, “I give up. We’re never going to catch that mule.”
To which the other brother replied, “Me too, but I think it’s just as well, I’m not sure I wanted to plow that hard and fast anyway!”
For my part, moving to the country has been very good. Among other things, perhaps the most important thing it has done for me is to remind me of the importance of slowing down a little.
A few years ago, the Grammy award winning Country Music Group, “Alabama”, had a hit song that comprised of these words…
“I'm in a hurry to get things done;
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die;
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.
Don't know why I have to drive so fast;
My car has nothing to prove.
It's not new;
But it'll do zero to sixty in five point two.
Can't be late, I leave in plenty of time;
Shakin' hands with the clock.
I can't stop;
I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock.
Oh, I hear a voice,
That says I'm running behind,
Better pick up my pace;
It's a race; and there ain't no room for someone in second place.
I'm in a hurry to get things done;
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really gotta do is live and die;
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.”
Can you relate to these words? I know I can. And my suspicion is that I am not alone. Even in the Bible, we find people who were so rushed, so busy, that they all but missed the more important things of life. One such example is found in Luke 10:38-42, where we read…
38Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. 40But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 41But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; 42but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Like Martha, I spent a good portion of my professional life busily attending to details. I suppose I was reasonably good at it. I rarely failed to cross the appropriate “t” or dot the appropriate “i”. After all, any responsible pastor who is “worth his salt” will do much the same, will he not?
But I now see that, more often that I care to admit, the consequence of what Jesus called “worrying and bothering about so many things” was that I may have been moving so fast and so busily from one detail to another that I failed to focus on the “good part”.
These days, I have chosen to heed the admonition of Psalm 46:10, which says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” I’m glad I now have; for clearly, “life in the slow lane” has its advantages. Trust me, I am learning this great truth daily!
SOURCES:
Joke: http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=146507, p.39.
Lyrics: https://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/alabama/im-in-a-hurry-and-dont-know-why-4186.html.
Scriptures:
https://biblehub.com/context/luke/10-38.htm;
https://biblehub.com/psalms/46-10.htm.
NOTE:
Alas! God’s timing is impeccable! As I was preparing to post this blog, “Class Reunion”, Season 3, Episode 20, of “The Andy Griffith Show” was being aired. In this particular episode, Andy and Barney stumble upon their old yearbook, and decide to organize their twentieth High School reunion. Aa a result, Andy's old flame, Sharon DeSpain, comes back into town; whereupon she and Andy pick up right where they left off, in the garden outside.
Both wonder whatever happened to their earlier relationship until it finally occurs to them that what separated them in high school is what still separates them. Sharon wants the bright lights and big city; while Andy is perfectly happy to stay right where he is in the little town of Mayberry. The truth being conveyed is that there is much to be said for living out one’s life out in a simple time and place and simple manner.