Taking Time to Slow Down

Ask any college student and she or he will tell you that right now is the worst time of the year. Its finals time and everyone I know has reached the maximum possible level of stress. There are papers due, presentations to give, and tests to study for...and, let's not forget that that is only the academic aspect of the semester. Friends are graduating or planning to go abroad so there are good-byes to make, it seems that every group on campus is having some sort of end of the semester get together, and, or course, there is the all important Christmas shopping to take care of. However, no matter what else is going on I try and take a little time to slow down and take time to talk to God.

Earlier in the year, a young woman from Ghana stood up during joys and concerns at chapel and voiced her concern that students on campus were too caught up in the strenuous work environment and forgot to take time to just be with God. She reminded all of us that if we just take a few minutes every day to listen for God's voice everything else that's going on in our lives will fall into a better perspective. Just those few little minutes can make finishing a paper seem more achievable, fitting all those extra group meetings into an already hectic schedule not so much of a problem, and make disagreements with friends seem easily repairable.

Those words have stayed with me and I try to follow them. Yes, I get busy. Yes, I sometimes forget, but I've come to realize that she was right. Just taking a few minutes of everyday to talk to God and remember what's really important in life can make even the busiest day seem less stressful. I encourage everyone, especially in this advent season when we sometimes forget that we're waiting for the birth of Jesus not waiting to unwrap all those presents under the tree, to take some time everyday to listen for God's voice and remember what this season is really about. This should be a time of hope and joy not a time of stress, so sit back, relax and remember the true miracle of this time of year.

Laura Jennison is in her fourth year as a HELM Leadership Fellow and is a member of North Hill Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Spokane, Washington.