A keen philosopher once noted, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Who was the insightful person, Plato, Aristotle, Kant? No, it was Ferris Bueller. This was his closing line in the hit 1980’s movie, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. If you are not a fan of 80’s kitsch high school movies I don’t recommend you add it to your Netflix list or run out to Blockbuster. However, wrapped up in pop-philosophy there is a great point to be made.
My first ministry was among senior citizens at a church nestled in a retirement community. The vast majority of the congregation was in their 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s. As I interacted with them and listened to their stories of childhood and adult life, one thing constantly stuck with me, “Life is short.” These friends could remember the days of their youth with clarity and often they would comment on how quickly it passed.
Our culture moves at a breakneck pace and we value speed and multitasking. We have instant coffee, fast food and we “shop ‘til we drop.” Even on the Internet the idea of “dial-up” is archaic and we view “high-speed” internet as a right. I read an article the other day that India’s high-speed internet was interrupted when a cable snapped underneath the Mediterranean Sea. Businesses were crippled around the world because so many rely on India for customer service and tech support in outsourced jobs. Even in India they need their high-speed!
But the reminder from Ferris Bueller should not be lost. Life is short and if we are not careful we can become so busy that we never stop to take the time and enjoy it. Even in ministry there is a danger of becoming so busy that we miss life. In a telling comment in the book of Mark we read Jesus’ comments to His disciples, “And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.) They went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.” (Mark 6:31-32)
Of course we know that this rest was short lived as the crowds followed them and Jesus again ministered to the people. The narrative concludes with the feeding of the 5,000. But following that Jesus sent the disciples on ahead and “left for the mountain to pray.” (Verse 46)
Rest helps us to focus on God and put things back in perspective. In my early days in ministry here in El Cajon I would often slip away for a drive up to the mountains or down by the ocean. As I would sit on a bench overlooking the Pacific Ocean I would quietly read my Bible and pray. Or when I would go up to the mountains and walk the Pacific Crest Trail I would look at the mountains to the west and the expanse of desert in the valley to the east. The grand, majestic views would remind me of how big this world is and how immeasurably bigger the God who created them truly is. This would put my small problems in perspective.
Jesus said much the same thing when talking about worry in Matthew 6. He told His disciples to look at the birds of the air or the lilies of the field and see how God provides for them. He then gently reminds us that we are so much more valuable to God as His children and He will definitely meet our needs. (Verses 26, 28)
Not only do we miss life when we go non-stop at breakneck speed but we lose perspective about the blessed life that God has given us. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”