Urgency is Overrated

Just a quick thought this morning about the way a sense of "urgency" has crept into every part of our society. The recent shooting in Arizona got me thinking about the motivation of a crazed person who apparently thought that a response was so urgent to the opinions or the policies of an elected government official, a public servant, that he had to shoot someone to "share" that response! This of course is an extreme example of something I have been noticing for years...

There is a sense of urgency in our sharing of opinions! Not only do I need to share what I think, but you JUST HAVE TO HEAR IT NOW, and more so, YOU HAVE TO ACT ON IT NOW! The art of good process has gone by the wayside. This of course does not mean that opinions are not meant to be shared, but the art of compromise and patience needs to be stressed in every part of lives. This includes government decisions, and what to get at the grocery store. It needs to become part of religious discussion and social decision-making. I know that "my idea is the best one out there", but is it possible that my idea might take a while to evolve? Is it possible that national policies might take a generation to move in the right direction? Is it possible that the opinion of a crazy guy with a gun could be heard without shots fired?

We're approaching an anniversary in my area of a really bad week last year where two separate shootings left an indelible mark on a community that prides itself on being a close knit family. A sense of urgency came over two crazed individuals, and the result is that four people are dead, and the lives a few more are forever changed... One being my friend Joe. Joe hasn't had the luxury of being able to hurry up and recuperate from his gunshot wound to the head. He has spent this entire year slowly regaining his life back. And while I don't wish that for anyone, we should all pay close attention to Joe and the Congresswoman from Arizona, for they are showing the world just how long it can take before a process completes itself. No they are not better off because of the crazed sense of urgency that put them in their predicament, but they are showing us just how much courage and time it takes to meet a challenge and see it through!

My random thought is simply, don't react at things to quickly. Don't try and hurry the process of things. Allow for time and patience when dealing with decisions and movements in life.

NOW HURRY UP AND CHANGE YOUR WAYS PEOPLE, I don't have all day here!