Why?
I used to rush through life, thinking everything depended on my quick wits, my grasp of a situation. I used to fret at night (well, I admit I can still be an insomniac) going over and over decisions obsessively, making sure I'd crossed all t's and dotted all i's.
Why?
So often what we think is our capability and capacity for responsibility is really our insecurity and over-responsibility.
When we move more slowly through life, we leave room for God's actions and we see what's really happening much more clearly.
When we prayerfully ask for and receive Christ's eyes to see with, we see that if we slow down, we can still get somewhere on time with room to spare AND the people around us are less frazzled because we're calmer - and more loving.
We see that if we stop thinking that WE have to come up with all the answers, other people have genuinely good suggestions - including God.
When we see with Christ's eyes, we realize that God is not "out there." God is inside us, and in every moment of our lives. God is the honored Guest of our souls, the Lover of our minds, hearts, bodies, and souls. In some great Mystery, God gives us our freedom to make choices and build our own lives, yet at the same time, the Holy Wind of the Holy Spirit breathes "beneath our wings," holding us aloft, guiding us, empowering us to fly safely to reach our destinations, earthly and, finally, Heavenly.
God is not "out to get us" unless you mean to "get us where we need to go."
Because God, above all, is Merciful Love." I don't mean "cheap mercy," the kind that would say that abortion or euthanasia is the answer when life gets tough. or that we need to favor and support one group of people more than any other. "Quick-fix" solutions that rob people of life, that don't respect the gift of life and the dignity of every individual are never true Mercy or Love.
Merciful Love is patient. Merciful Love endures. God is patient with our mistakes, our frenzies, our immaturities, our sins. He waits for us to realize how wrong, how misguided we are. God's love endures and His mercy is everlasting; when we repent, He forgives our sins, and will always show us new paths of life.
When you think back over various episodes in your life, and see with Christ's eyes, you'll be able to find where God was acting for you, even if at the time, God seemed to be in hiding. Did you learn something from pain? Did you have a strength then that makes you wonder now where that strength came from? Did a wise decision pop into your mind seemingly overnight? Have people that were estranged then reconciled recently? Has your heart healed from what seemed a death-blow? Did you make one career choice that later didn't work out, but all those skills you'd learned were transferable skills?
Believe that every good and noble and wise and strong and loving and healing experience and moment that you've had has been God's gift to you, grace borne to you on the wings of God's Holy Spirit. Comforter, Encourager, Advocate, Healing Balm, Peace and Joy, the One Who reminds us continually of all Jesus has taught us, - the Holy Spirit is Gift of our Baptism, Gift of our Confirmation, ongoing Giver of Gifts for our living -
Giver of Gifts, so we won't feel the need to rush, but will take time to slowly be aware of the Miracle of Life all around us.
Giver of Gifts, so we won't over-analyze and agonize and think that everything is "on us," but instead we'll pray and be silent, in trustful waiting for God's guidance.
Giver of Gifts, so that we can find time to see our lives with Christ's eyes and trust that all is being worked out to the good for us, because we believe in our Father in Heaven.
Rely on God's Holy Spirit, the Giver of All Good Gifts. He'll navigate your life's journey for you. He'll bring you safely Home.