Slowing Down to the Speed of Awe

We have now entered the last month in 2021, which means that I am on the last soul-training exercise that author James Bryan Smith suggests in his book, "The Good and Beautiful God". To me, the discipline of Slowing Down seems so appropriate for the holiday month of December. I believe it will take courage and intention to combat the hype and the hustle that often comes with the Christmas package. 

Smith says that "when hurried, we cannot experience life at its fullest..." On the other hand, "when we slow down, we allow ourselves to be found, found by life and found by God." That, to me, sounds so desirable for this season. In the author's words, I wish to "take delight in my life and make room for God" these days of December. 

One suggestion in Smith's list of ways to practice slowing down is to choose an hour on a particular day to be a sloth (as in moving about very slowly, not in being sluggish and lazy). He suggests that to do this sloth hour is to stop often, to notice things, to be present in the present moment.

I've decided on taking his suggestion and tweaking it a bit - or a lot - to create a slow down routine for me in the month of December. I want to set aside at least a few minutes each day to slow down purposefully, to notice delightful things in my view, and to make room in my life to be found by God. Instead of moving at the speed of sloth, though, I'll move at the speed of awe, as another author words it. (I can't think just now who said that)

I wish to document my impressions of this soul-training exercise. I would like to commit to blogging about it daily, but I'm not making any promises in that regard. (I don't want the exercise itself to become burdensome or pressuring because that would feel in many ways like I'm edging back into the hurry-flurry I wish to avoid!) 

Today my soul-training session included going on a walk in the orchard. Here are some things I noticed in my sloth-and-awe time:

 A bright spot of color popping out of the slop heap

Plant life nestled in unique snow-crystaled frames

A stick man striding across a thin layer of pond ice?

They say to bloom where you're planted; what about blooming where you're wintered?

Where would you venture for a walk at the speed of awe?