slowing down.

i am leading this month's community group with my friend, the purple loving stephan. when thinking long and hard about a topic, i thought (selfishly) about what i needed to hear: slow down.

stop emily.
stop and look.
and listen.
practice what you teach.
and be present.
remove your phone from your pocket.
and commit to this practice.
listen to the words of your friends.
as they tell you where they've been.
and imagine what it would be to feel their feelings.
and get that iphone out from under the table.
you think they can't see the glare as you're texting?
and while you drive? really?
stop.
stop twittering about your job.
or your breakfast.
and stop blogging about yourself.
stop stop stop.

if we all committed to slowing down.
and being present.
we might observe more things.
like depression and suicide.
and sadness and joy.
and maybe we could start.
start to observe. and see what God is doing.
where God is in the earth, on the earth.
in the relationships that are right in front of you.

if only, we could start to breathe.
and feel it in our bellies, deep.
the in and the out, slowly.
and then start again.
remembering to go slow.

for those of you who profess christ, you might enjoy this video's message.