Slow Down
There are times in our lives that I would refer to as “peak moments”. You are in the right place at the right time with the right people around you doing something amazing. Often these peak moments are reserved for weddings, holidays, or vacations but they don’t have to be. In their book “The Power of Moments” authors Chip and Dan Heath say that we can create these moments in our lives all the time and we don’t have to wait for them to just happen. We experienced one of these special moments Saturday, May 27th. Here’s what happened.
It was a beautiful cool Saturday with temps running between 65 and 70, a light breeze blowing, and the bluest skies you could imagine. We were sitting in Adirondack chairs staring out at one of the most amazing bodies of water, Lake Huron in Northern Michigan, we’d ever seen. Kids were playing with their dogs, couples soaking up the sun, and though there were lots of people around it was quiet. Unusually quiet. Something always present was missing. Some sound always interrupting our conversations, always invading our thoughts, and always producing a distraction of some kind was strangely absent in this beautiful place.
We were enjoying a day on Michigan’s Mackinac Island and the intrusive noise that was missing was the sound of motorized vehicles. There are NO cars, trucks, or motorcycles on Mackinac Island. The primary modes of transportation are horse drawn carriages, bicycles, or good old fashioned rock kicking, aka hoofing it, aka walking. You can only get to the island by taking a ferry ride across Lake Huron. You’d be surprised how much quieter it is with no motorized vehicles. Peaceful quiet, which is the idea on the island. The entire place is designed to take you back to a slower, and a simpler time. There are lots of parks/grassy areas to relax in, have a picnic, and enjoy the slower pace.
So, what made this day so special? First, certainly the beautiful setting. It was absolutely picturesque. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. Second, the company. There’s no one I’d rather be exploring this beautiful place with than my bride of almost 30 years. We have a HUGE milestone we’re celebrating later this year that we’ll be sharing with you. I’m so grateful to do life with her. Third, the solitude we experienced in this amazing place. With the pace and decibel level of most of our lives some moments of solitude are critical. In his book, “The Way of the Heart” author Henri J.M. Nouwen teaches that “Solitude is purification, and transformation, the place of the great struggle and the great encounter.” In moments of solitude our hearts and minds are purified and transformed through prayer, Scripture, and a little silence. He goes on to say that “The purification and transformation that takes place in solitude manifest themselves in compassion.” Simply put, when we allow our hearts and minds to be purified and transformed in moments of solitude it helps us love people better. No one loved better than Jesus and you’ll see in the gospels that solitude was a priority for Him. We should make it a priority in our lives as well.
This peak moment wasn’t brought on by some mountain top experience, or a once in a lifetime event. What made this moment so special was more of what was missing than what was going on. The day was special because we slowed down enough to enjoy it, the noise was greatly reduced, and the company was amazing. These are things we have complete control of no matter where we are. It’s simply a matter of making these things a priority in our lives. It will likely look different for everyone. Some will find solitude in the morning, others in the evening. Let’s follow Jesus’ example and make it a priority. We may be surprised at how many more “peak moments” show up in our lives.