{"id":21367,"date":"2021-10-23T00:01:57","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T07:01:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/?p=21367"},"modified":"2021-10-20T22:55:39","modified_gmt":"2021-10-21T05:55:39","slug":"if-we-had-hurried","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/if-we-had-hurried\/","title":{"rendered":"If We Had Hurried"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/If We Had Hurried.mp3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-474\" src=\"http:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SEV-CampfireAudio.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"375\" height=\"108\" srcset=\"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SEV-CampfireAudio.jpg 375w, https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/SEV-CampfireAudio-300x86.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 375px) 100vw, 375px\" \/><\/a>We live, work, and play in a very fast-paced world where things and life are always moving at a much faster speed than we would want or desire.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It just seems that everyone, everywhere, wants to speed things up, work at a faster pace, or even play harder and longer because there is already so little time to get everything done.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Simply put, we as a society, are always in just too big of a hurry.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>We don\u2019t take the time to enjoy the precious present, the moment in which we are living.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Beauty is all around us.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Sights, smells, emotions, touches, and sounds cascade into our human senses daily, and yet we seldom take or make a small extra moment of time to recognize these \u201csense stimulators\u201d and enjoy them for what they are,&#8230;.God-given blessings to our lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>God is never in a rush or hurry to get the things He has planned for our individual lives completed or finished.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>We must always remember that we, as God Created human beings, are not made for this world but rather for another higher and greater world than the physical one in which we live today.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>God always has been and remains to be the One and Only Person who is in complete control of the timing, the people, and the events that will comprise the balance of what God wants us to experience as we live our lives on this earth.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If you really want to mess things up in your life, just begin trying to push or boss God and His time table around into a different pace than He originally laid out for your life.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Permit me to share with you a short but powerful story about a man and his son who were going about their affairs in totally different directions, and at totally different paces.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Billy Rose originally shared this story.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Its impact and meaning has never changed and never will.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><b> The moral:<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>Slow down&#8230;enjoy the moment and the things and people that make them up. <\/b><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>God\u2019s pace is always the right pace.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A story please&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;..<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">There once was a fellow who, with his dad farmed a little piece of land.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Several times a year they would load up the old ox-drawn cart with vegetables and go into the nearest city to sell their produce.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Except for their name and the patch of ground, father and son had very little in common.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The old man believed in taking life easy.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He believed in stopping to \u201csmell the roses\u201d as he went about the living of his own life.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>On the other hand, the boy was almost always in a big hurry to get whatever he was doing speeded up to an early completion.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He was a real go-getter type young man.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">One morning, bright and early, they hitched up the ox to the loaded cart and started on a long journey.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The son figured that if he could force the ox to walk faster and if he kept the animal pulling the cart all day and night, they would be able to make it to the market by early the next morning. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>So the son kept on prodding the ox with a stick, urging the beast to get a move on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cTake it easy son,\u201d said the old man.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019ll last longer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cBut if we get to the market ahead of the others, we\u2019ll have a better<\/span><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>chance of getting good prices,\u201d argued the son.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">No reply.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The father just pulled his hat down over his eyes and fell asleep on the seat.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Itchy and irritated, the young man just kept goading the ox to walk faster and faster.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His stubborn pace refused to change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Four hours and four miles down the road, they came to a little house.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The father woke up, smiled, and said, \u201cHere is your uncle\u2019s place.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Let\u2019s stop in and say hello.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cBut we have lost an hour already,\u201d complained the hotshot.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThen a few more minutes won\u2019t really matter.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>My brother and I live so close to each other, yet we see each other so seldom,\u201d the father answered slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The boy fidgeted and fumed while the two old men laughed and talked away almost another hour.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>On the move again, the old man took his turn leading the ox.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>As they approached a fork in the road, the father led the ox to the right side of the fork.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThe left fork is the shorter way,\u201d said the son.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cI know it,\u201d replied the old man \u201cbut this way is so much prettier.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cHave you no respect for time?\u201d the young man asked impatiently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cOh, I respect it very much!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>That is exactly why I like to look at the beauty around me and enjoy each moment to the fullest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The winding path led through graceful meadows, wildflowers, and along a rippling stream&#8211;all of which the young man missed as he churned within, preoccupied and boiling with anxiety.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He didn\u2019t even notice how lovely the sunset was that day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Twilight found them in what looked like a huge, colorful garden.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The old man breathed in the sweet aroma, listened to the bubbling brook, and pulled the ox to a halt.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cLet\u2019s sleep right here,\u201d he sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cThis is the last trip I am ever taking with you,\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>snapped his son.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cYou\u2019re more interested in watching sunsets and smelling flowers than in making money!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cWhy, that\u2019s the nicest thing you\u2019ve said to me in a long&#8230;long time,\u201d smiled the dad.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>A couple of minutes later he was snoring&#8211;as his son glared back at the stars.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The night dragged slowly, the son was restless.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Before sunrise, the young man hurriedly shook his father awake.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>They hitched up the cart to the ox and continued on their journey to the market. About a mile down the road they happened upon another farmer&#8211;a total stranger&#8211;trying to pull his cart out of a muddy ditch into which he had slid.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cLet\u2019s give him a hand,\u201d whispered the old man.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cAnd lose more time?\u201d the boy exploded.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cRelax, son&#8230;you just might be in a ditch sometime yourself.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>We need to<\/span><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>always help other people who are in need&#8211;don\u2019t ever forget that.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The boy looked away in anger.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">It was almost eight o\u2019clock that morning by the time the other cart was out of the ditch and back on the road.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Suddenly, a great blinding flash split the entire sky.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>What sounded like heavy crashing thunder followed.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Beyond the hills, the sky grew very dark and foreboding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cLooks like big rain in the city,\u201d said the old man.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cIf we had hurried, we\u2019d be almost sold out by now,\u201d grumbled his son.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>\u201cTake it easy&#8230;you\u2019ll last longer.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>And you will enjoy life so much more,\u201d counseled the kind old gentleman.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">It was late in the afternoon by the time they got to the hill overlooking the city.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>They stopped and stared down at it for a long,&#8230;long time.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Neither of them said a word.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Finally, the young man put his hand on his father\u2019s shoulder and said, \u201cI now see what you mean, Dad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">They turned their cart around and began to roll slowly away from what once had been known as the city of Hiroshima, Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>God Almighty never makes a mistake.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>His timing is always perfect regardless of what the circumstances surrounding you and your efforts appear to be.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><b>Blessings and Encouragement to You&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We live, work, and play in a very fast-paced world where things and life are always moving at a much faster speed than we would want or desire.\u00a0 It just seems that everyone, everywhere, wants to speed things up, work &hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/if-we-had-hurried\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-stories-that-will-bless-your-heart"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21367","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21367"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21367\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21373,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21367\/revisions\/21373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21367"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21367"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/davesevern.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21367"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}