24: The Slow Ebb of Change

The problem with change is that it takes too long. I remember telling my mother that I thought the childhood story of the Rabbit and the Tortoise got it wrong. The Rabbit had more fun! Winning without excitement wasn’t my objective..

​One of my spiritual teachers told me this story for a rather obvious reason:

In the midst of a Michigan winter, a mid-aged couple decided to celebrate their 30th anniversary by escaping to the small cottage in a Southern state where they had first honeymooned. They looked forward to it for months.

As life would have it, the woman’s work life prevented her from departing on schedule, but her husband went ahead, promising to get things ready and send her a message when he arrived.

After his arrival, he did as promised, only his 50-something fingers slipped while sending the message on his i-phone. One letter error in the email address meant that his message did not arrive in the mailbox of his wife, but instead it was sent to a woman whose husband had died the week earlier. A Pastor, the man had lived an upright life and his wife was deeply held by grief.

The message read:
“Darling. I miss you more than you can imagine. Hurry to me please. I know that you will be here sooner than you thought. It’s so lonely without you. Things are different here. You will be pleased to know there is internet here.

Be prepared. It’s very hot down here.”

Love, your Beloved Husband

I got the point…Speed and Care are often the necessary elements of change. Intention and deliberate action take attention. Change requires focus and focus requires me to slow down — pay attention — and be ready for the surprise delivery.

Making Change means being willing to give attention.

And WAIT

What change of attention will you have today?