One of my favorite songs is Simon and Garfunkel’s “Feeling Groovy” and nothing makes me feel groovier than taking a slow walk Saturday around Lady Bird Lake in Austin. The song goes something like this with apologies for some modifications:
“Slow down you move to fast,
Got to make the Saturday last,
Just kicking down Lady Bird Lake,
Austin is great and feeling groovy.”
Here is a picture I snapped last weekend during my weekly trek. These turtles sure know how to Slow Down, bask in the sun, and feel groovy.
While the word Groovy may have been out of vogue since the Seventies, slowing down to regroup is still key to a better life. Even more so in this time of constant noise and nuisance. Nothing restores the soul and the spirit then a good podcast, a crisp wind and nature all around.
Slowing down is the key to the healthy and happy life. I seldom miss a Slow Walk Saturday for the following three reasons:
1. Time to reflect and adjust. When we are running from one task to the other, there is seldom time to reflect, learn from experiences, and adjust. I find that when I slow down and quiet my mind that I come up with the answer that I need. Proof point? I have been so busy with work and life that I have been having writer’s block. A few minutes and miles and I had ten new ideas when I had been stuck for at least a week. Sometimes the best thing when you are struggling for a solution is slow down, quiet your mind and be thankful for the nature all around you.
2. Destress and feel blessed. Nothing stokes compassion and soothes the soul than to experience nature. It is hard to feel hassled when you see 20 turtles sunning on a log or see a bird take flight. It is a wonder this world! Our role is to revel and reflect the love of God in his creation. Not to strive and stifle. Slowing down makes us thankful for the pauses and pleasures that are in each day!
3. Listen and learn. When you are alone with your thoughts and those of a good book, you learn new things about yourself and your place in the world. I recommend to everyone the library application Libby which provides audio books for free if you have a library card. I have learned so much while walking and listening from how Changing your Habit can Change Your Life to How to be 10% Happier. Truly my Slowdown Saturdays have made me a better person!
Life is not a sprint. It a slow walk to the better angels of our nature. So, take the time to slow down and feel groovy.
I hate flying on planes; doubly so after a hard week at work on a late flight. Such was the case when I boarded a plane back to Austin a few years ago. Little did I know that my temperament and life was going to change in mid-flight!
A change occurs midflight
I had just settled into my aisle seat. I always get an aisle seat, especially back
then when I was a bit north of 250. I
had already gotten up one time for the person in the window seat. Now I was spreading out hoping against hope
that I could dissuade someone from taking the middle seat. It was not to be.
Near the end of on-boarding, a young clean-cut guy asked if the seat next to me was taken. People were pressing so he was standing directly to the side of me, blocking my way from getting out. I said in an abrupt manner, “I could let you in if you would move and stop blocking my path.” The lady behind him caught my grumpy facial expression, took pity on him, and moved back so I could let him in. Yeah, I thought, I now had a tall occupant with wide shoulders occupying the seat next to me. Fun! Time to lean out in the aisle a little more.
I glanced over to size up my neighbor, since by this time I
was feeling a little bad about how I acted.
I noticed three things off the bat that were different. First the guy was reading a religious book;
something not expected from a young man without a collar. Equally unique was the Miraculous Medal
around his neck; something you do not often see except on a Nun. Lastly, I noticed he had a rosary in his
lap.
Thinking I had a priest or a seminarian next to me, I began
feeling even more sheepish than I did before.
So, I decided to try and make amends for the way I acted and strike up a
conversation. I reached out my hand to my neighbor and said,
“Hey I am sorry about how grumpy I was a moment ago. My name is Don.” He replied his name was Travis Moran and we
struck up a conversation.
Wanting to find out more about Travis, I said, “I noticed from the religious book and the rosary that you must be Catholic. I am too, even though a few moments ago I may not have appeared to be. I was just about to listen to a podcast of Father Mike Schmitz. Have you heard of him?” Those who regularly read my blogs know I am a devoted listener to Father Mike Schmitz’s podcasts. He is an excellent speaker whose lessons on life and God are inspired. Travis promptly pulled out his cell phone and showed me a picture of him with Father Mike and others. Travis had just been to the SEEK conference in San Antonio and heard Father Mike and others evangelize. This was the first indication that maybe Travis and my meeting was not by chance.
For the first time in a long time, I decided to talk to the
person next to me on the plane. I
usually do not like to talk on planes.
But this was unbelievable. Travis
is an amazing young man. He was discerning to be a priest when he got another
calling to be a physical therapist for Special Needs kids in Connecticut. Working with his father and others, he treats
autistic and other special needs children at Crossroads Physical Therapy. I was so impressed by his kindness and
devotion to God that I was not sure if it was all real so I looked him up (see http://www.quchronicle.com/2011/12/this-is-me-a-man-with-faith/).
I now asked him about book that he was he reading. It was
called 33 Days to Morning Glory. He
explained that the book was a 33 day retreat to grow closer and consecrate yourself
to Jesus through the intercession of Mary.
Ok, I thought. A little deep for
me but he was so devoted I listened attentively. Maybe God was speaking to me.
We talked for another 20 minutes or so until Travis asked if
he could take time out and say his daily rosary. As we closed our conversation, he told me he
was praying his daily rosary today for my intention. I thanked him. Later as we left the plane, we shook hands and
I told him how much I enjoyed the conversation and prayers. Little did I know that this was not the end
of this change that started in mid-flight.
Or so I thought! Instead with at that late hour, I through blurry eyes bought another book: 33 Days to Merciful Love! Noting that I ordered the wrong book, I later bought 33 Days to Morning Glory. After reading a few chapters of each book, I put them aside as work and life distracted me. The original spark faded until several months later, when God broke through again.
I was on a work trip in Raleigh, North Carolina. I could not sleep and got up at 4 O’clock. Wanting to get some restless energy out, I walked the streets of Raleigh with my earbuds in, listening to the latest podcast from Father Mike. It was the opening homily for Lent and as he finished, he told his parishioners at UMD that he had a book for all of them. The book was 33 Days to Merciful Love! Here is the actual podcast with the link to the book https://soundcloud.com/bulldogcatholic/wholehearted-part-i-go-big-be-small I have never felt God’s presence in my life more, as a tingle ran down my spine.
Third time is the charm.
I could not ignore the message any longer. I performed both internal retreats covered in
the books. At the end, I consecrated
myself to Jesus through Mary. It was a
life changing experience and though not yet all the way there, those retreats have
helped me to grow closer to the Lord. I now hope to bring others closer to Jesus both
as a Core Team member with the Life Teen ministry.
I still tear up thinking about this change in Mid-flight and
Mid-life. I hope this true-life message inspires
you to put down that iPhone on the plane and to be a little more kind to the
person in the seat next to you. It just
might be God trying to talk to you!
