Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Downshift

Sometimes life just sort of goes forward without much notice

And then it just hits

I am in my car and just going down the highway like everyone else and my daughter mentions I am going 90MPH...and I didn't even notice my pace...it was the same as everyone else

I am looking closely at the gauge of my life these days

Wow. Ouch. Huh?

How long have I been going 100?

For a while. For years? Decades?

A couple of years ago I went to Germany with some bro's. We hopped on the autobahn and it was scary. A hundred-twenty just kept pace. After a couple days we were all used to crazy Bob's driving and going 120

The only time we really noticed how fast we were going was when we came to a curve or an exit ramp...and we woke up quick

This same feeling expresses where i am this day as I intentionally try to slow down l

It's been three weeks

I thought this would be easy

Truth is... it is downright difficult to downshift

Actually, really hard

I thought I could just hit the brakes...which I did...but the gears will only allow me to slow down so quickly

Others are honking at me as I try to get to the exit lane. They want me to keep pace
My body is freaking out as I drop caffeine from my lifestyle...i (think i) am missing my coffee and diet coke addictions from the past 20 years
My ears are hearing new things as some noise is being eliminated
I can hear myself breathe again

The heart beat is still too fast but a memory of quieter times is nearby

A sustainable rhythm for the next stage of life is my desire

I wonder where this downshift will lead?

To a new "normal" pace of life?

To a place where I can hear Jesus' voice clearer and with more regularity?

Today, I downshift one more time