I’m sure you can guess which story the image above represents? 

But my question to you is, if you didn’t know how the story ended, who would you guess would win the race?

I know I would choose the Hare  - fast, races around, confident will win. 

Our perception of being fast makes us believe that we can achieve much more - the faster we are, the quicker we get to places, it takes us less time, more tasks can be achieved in shorter time, right?

Well in theory yes! 

But what actually happens? The hare has a sleep. So overconfident he thinks he can sleep and still win!  The tortoise carries on at his slow steady speed, persevering and having faith in himself.  Hare sleeps for too long and the Tortoise makes it over the finish line first!

‘Slow & steady is sometimes better than fast and flashy’ the badger says in the story.   

How does this compare to our lives? Are we racing around at 100 mph or are we taking a slow & steady pace? 

Are we going so fast we can’t take in anything around us, missing things which are right in front of us? Missing the beauty of precious life around us - the time Jesus wants to spend with us?

One thing I find remarkable about the hare & the tortoise story is the faith the tortoise has  in himself to win. Faith he can do it and do it in a deserved & committed way. Believing in himself. 

From Matthew ch 7, when Jesus preaches the sermon on the mount...He says in verse 3....

Matthew 7:3

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Seemingly we can completely miss what’s going on for us.  Too busy attending to everybody’s else’s needs and missing the glaringly obvious in ourselves.

Are we putting time aside to focus on how we are feeling, are we focusing on what is happening in our lives and looking after ourselves?  It’s not always easy to focus on us.  Not always easy to address our feelings and how we can improve things that may not be right.  But it is important.  I read a few tips in John Mark Comer’s book ‘The Elimination of Hurry’ on how to slow down a little, here are some practical tips: 

•       Turn phone off for periods during the day and don’t attend to streams of messages. Or emails.

•       Drive the speed limit - be very conscious not to go over at any point.

•       Get into the slow lane  and feel comfortable in it, don’t feel the need to overtake.

•       Turn up early for appointments and have that time to collect your thoughts.

•       Get in the longest line in the supermarket queue - and maybe pray in the queue or think about how you are feeling emotionally and spiritually.

•       Stick to set times for working - checking emails 

•       Reduce TV watching

•       Purposely walk slower when out

•       Take up journaling or writing in a diary.

•       Load a meditation app or play some relaxing music and relax.

•       Take long holidays if possible rather than short breaks.

•       Eat well & cook at home.

I particularly like tip where it forces us to go in the slow lane or the tip suggesting we get into the longest queue at the supermarket.  How many of you are thinking  ‘what a waste of time , that will take ages to get from A to B when I could go so much faster’ or standing in the longest queue. Wasting so much valuable time!  But here’s a thought what about if we pray whilst queuing or driving slowly, or listen to an audible bible reading for the day or just taking the time to listen, maybe God is trying to say something to us.

Maybe that’s what the tortoise did when he was racing the hare.  Praying to God that he will be with him and help him to win the race.

I’m going to end asking you this question which you can ponder on….

If you could slow your life down, what would you do that would give you the most satisfaction?  Something you can’t ordinarily achieve at the moment.

Maybe write it down, keep the piece of paper and think about that special something - you could aim to achieve it one day!