What’s on Your Calendar? The Importance of Slowing Down and Taking a Pause

Are you sure everything that needs to be on your calendar is actually there? We all lead busy lives, and in general, we tend to think that if we aren’t rushing from one activity to the next, we’re missing out or wasting time. "You only live once," they say, so we feel the need to pack our schedules as full as possible to avoid missing anything. However, the problem often arises when we get so caught up in the hustle that we forget to enjoy the good parts of life. We start to worry and rush so much that our minds don’t have a chance to slow down, breathe, look around, and truly enjoy the moment.

I’ve found myself in this situation before—constantly moving from one task to another without ever taking a moment to sit back, smile, and savor the present. Even Jesus, who walked on this earth in human form, became tired, thirsty, and needed to take breaks. He was a great minister to the masses when He delivered the Sermon on the Mount, but even He needed to pause and get away from the crowds.

In one such instance during His travels, He stopped and rested by a well. In John 4:7, it states, “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’”

Here, while resting by the well, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—paused and asked for a simple drink of water. This simple request is a reminder that even in our busy lives, we can find moments to stop and breathe.

As we rush from place to place, we may not encounter Jesus in the flesh, but we may meet someone else in need. If we just slow down, look around, and open our eyes, we might find a fellow human being who could use a helping hand.

So, remember to pause. Take a breath. Enjoy the moment.