Invited to Walk at 3 Miles an Hour.

Jeremiah 6 vs 16: This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 23 vs 1 – 3: The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

I bustled down the path, in a hurry as usual. So much to do, so many people to see, so many places to get to.

Bustling, head down, focussed on not tripping over a random stone or falling into an unexpected pothole! Only occasionally looking up or around, rarely noticing anything on the way except the thoughts crowding my head.

Things to do, things I should do, things I’d forgotten to do! Family, fears, failures. Thoughts full of life’s realities, all pressing for attention as I hurried on my way.

My way!

But as I raced on, I gradually became aware of an old man, ambling along the path ahead of me. Casually strolling, humming a song as he wandered. Occasionally stopping to smell a flower, or listen to the birds singing in the trees.

I quickly caught up with Him and hurried past – I had too much to do to stop and chat. But I shouted out a ‘hello’ as I passed Him by: “Hello – beautiful day isn’t it” – as I rushed on ahead.

Then breaking into my crowded mind and hurried steps came the whisper of His reply:

“Yes it is beautiful. Would you like to enjoy it with me? There’s no need to rush – let’s walk together and see what we find on the way.”

Something in this whisper caused me to stop my hurried walk, to sit down on a fallen log and wait for him to catch up. The old man ambled slowly towards me, then sat beside me and smiled into my eyes.

“The day is so much better when we can share it together,” He said.

His words stirred in my spirit, and I took a deep breath and smiled back at him – smiled and started to walk alongside my 3mph companion;

My 3mph God.

My slow, steady God.

The 3mph God whose heart is set on walking with me on the long road and eternal pathways of life;

Not on the quick sprint, or rushed ‘to do’ lists; not on seeking instant gratifications and answers; not on doing it ‘my way’!

The 3mph God.

Who calls to me to walk alongside Him at His pace – By His side.

The 3mph God, who walks alongside me, inviting me to notice His gifts of grace and blessings along the way.

The beautiful bird song, the gentle whisper of the breeze in the trees, the shapes of the clouds, the springtime scent of early jasmine.

The 3mph God who invites me to stop and smell the roses with Him.

Who invites me to cease striving, and come and sit with Him on the log on the beach or on the park bench.

Who invites me to share His lunch with Him – food that somehow is so much more satisfying to my soul, and tastes so much better than anything I can prepare myself!

The 3mph God who invites me to swim and float with Him in His reservoir of love.

Who invites me to skim stones with Him by His river of joy.

Who invites me to lie down on the soft green grass beside the softly babbling stream and just listen to the quiet stillness of His presence.

The 3mph God who invites me to walk with Him at His pace. In His rhythms of grace. Along His ancient pathways that lead to life and rest for my soul.

The 3mph God who knows just how much is enough for today.

My 3mph God who simply walks, step by step, along the ancient pathways of life. And who invites me each day to stop my bustling, to listen to His invitation to walk with Him at His pace, holding His hand.

My 3mph God who invites me to become His 3mph daughter – a daughter who enjoys the journey with Him;

The 3mph daughter who, because I’m walking with Him, at His pace, has strength enough for the steep hills, and stamina to last the journey on the long road that is life.

The 3mph hour daughter who enjoys stopping along the way to enjoy the view.

And who is learning to savour those moments of peace, rest and joy in the journey, as I walk hand in hand and step by step with my 3mph God.

Why not press pause for a moment in your day, grab a cuppa of your favourite brew and listen to the same invitation of the 3mph God to your heart – the invitation to walk with Him, at His pace, as His much loved 3mph child.

_{To read more on this concept of God as a 3mph God, I would recommend reading the book: 3 mile an hour God” by Kosuke Koyama.}