Direction First...Speed Later

When running a race, speed is only important if I follow the right route.  The fastest runner stands no chance if she leaves the proper path!

Driving like a madman, obliterating the speed limit, makes no sense if I have no idea where I’m going.  I simply get lost more quickly.

Direction first…speed later.

Ruben Duran, the Director for New Congregations in the ELCA, made this clear at a conference I recently attended.  It’s something he heard from his father years ago.  Direction first…speed later.

I am a person that relies on speed.  Fall is right around the corner, and that means new programs, new activities, new leaders, and new excitement.  The calendar year may begin in January, but church calendars tend to revolve around the school year.  For the past few weeks I’ve been a part of many meetings, planning many activities.  It’s easy to work long hours to get everything ready.  My role as Mission Director for the synod continues to expand in new and exciting ways, adding to the workload.  I come into the office every morning and hit the ground running.  I have the need…for speed!

Ruben’s words struck a nerve with me.  Have I been racing along so fast that I’ve forgotten to make sure that I have the direction right?  Do I need to pause before ‘hitting the gas’ to make sure I’m on the right road?

This week I’ve gotten back into a routine that had slipped away from me.  I no longer come to the office and immediately plow into work.  I now take time to read something to deepen my faith (Philip Yancey is one of my favorite authors for that!).  I then pause for prayer, with significant time spent with the question, “God, what do you want me to do today?”  I think through my day with God…and sense where God calls me.  Direction first…speed later.

When things get busy this time for prayer and reflection can easily be sacrificed to allow more time to ‘accomplish things.’  But what is the point of running quickly if I don’t know where I’m going?  Prayer is a time to ground myself in the God who leads me.  It’s not an extra thing to do if I have time…it’s essential to all that I do.  It provides direction to the speed.

Direction first…speed later.  Thank you Ruben (and Ruben’s dad) for these Godly words!