The Pace of Patience

I moved into Romans 1-3 this morning but it wasn't necessarily words from there that deeply connected with me, but it was a quote shared in the meditation I was listening to as I walked.  I listen to the daily meditations on the Calm iOS app and today, the guide shared a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson...

Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.

As I walked listening to this and praying about patience in a time of waiting and discerning, Scout was her normal self slowly trying to edge herself further and further off the paved/gravel paths and into the growth on the side of the path.  When she does this, I have to fight the temptation to want to pull her back because "we have a walk to do."  But that is what is life giving to her - that's how she relates to the world...through the scents she pulls in from her bluetick coonhound beagle nose.

She gets it - its not about the pace we walk but about what we experience along the way.  And Jesus got it.  Scripture got it.  Jesus time and time again went off to a place of quiet and peace even when the huge crowds were following him.  Scripture speaks of listening for the silent voice of God and about taking time for Sabbath and resting.  Philippians 4:8 speaks of what we are called to focus on - all of which I think come to us when we slow down.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.