When is the last time that you stopped to observe your surroundings? When was the last time you simply paused to take in the sights and sounds of life as it goes by? We have all heard the phrases “Life goes by fast” or “Time flies.” Everyday seems fast-paced, and if we aren’t careful, it will seem like our kids grow up in a flash and our own youth is left behind. Sometimes, we just find ourselves struggling with the pressures of home, work, school, or life in general. It is in those moments, maybe more than ever, that we need to find a way to stop…or at the very least, slow down. A prophet named Elijah was spinning out of control in fear and exhaustion in 1 Kings 19. The previous chapter found him as the conquering prophet after his enemies, and he had a stand-off. Following that, he had been threatened by Queen Jezebel, and it sent him into what looked like a spiraling depression. He ran away, alone, to a mountain and hoped for death. Life seemed out of control, but God wasn’t finished with him yet. So, look how God got his attention: Touch – “The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him…” (5, 7). Twice in the passage, it mentioned the angels touching him. Someone laying your hand on a shoulder or giving a hug generally brings comfort. I know some people don’t like physical touch all that much, but the picture is clear in the passage that the angel was touching him to awaken and comfort. A lot of people today are calmed in that way. Even picking up an item or running your hands through sand can be enough to calm someone down. Sight, Smell, Taste – “Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again” (6). This is one of those passages where you can almost cause yourself to be in the moment just by imagining the smell of that bread he saw. I’m guessing he looked just as much from the smell as from the command “Arise, eat” (5). He saw it, I’m sure he smelt it, and he then ate it. The senses of sight, smell, and taste can quickly transfer us to a place in our minds. Maybe a candle smells like the calming woods, or someone’s coconut lotion transports your mind to the beach. Stopping to take in the sights, smells, and tastes of the food or coffee in your hand could bring some calm to a stressful day. Hearing – “After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it…” (12). Sometimes, it is helpful just to listen. Music is one of the greatest gifts to humanity. A whole book of the Psalms is dedicated to songs that were played on instruments. Many of those very Psalms may have been played by David to soothe the struggling heart of Saul (1 Samuel 16:23). How many times has a song changed your mood? I’ve experienced it on several occasions.
So my challenge to you this week is this: When life starts coming at you fast or stress starts piling up, don’t speed up – slow down. You may not be able to stop and smell the literal roses, but at least slow down and see what senses you can engage. Notice the feel of the carpet or the upholstery you are sitting on. Notice the colors of the room you are in or the sky that you are under. What do you smell? Does it smell sweet or bitter? Musty or fresh? How about what you taste? If you are eating is it sweet, sour, tangy or bland? And what is it you hear right now? Are there loud noises drowning out everything else, or do you hear something small and faint in the distance? When was the last time you stopped and observed your surroundings? Well, maybe it is time to do it again. You might even find that there are blessings straight from God Himself in those moments.