Slow me down, Lord

　　现代人追求的是高效率。人的一生时间有限，想做的事总感觉时间不够用，最好是一世人能有几世人的时间可以用。
　　住过一个地方，申请高速上网，申请了一年，总说来了来了。离开的时候，高速上网仍是个梦。
　　我是个快的人，对慢有时感到不耐烦，无奈。
　　反过来说，人生有些事是快不来的。慢有时候是一种必需，一种操练，一种境界。- -
　　
Ease the pounding of my heart,
by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace.
Give me, amidst the day's confusion,
the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles
with the soothing music of singing streams
that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking "minute vacations" ...
slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend,
to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me of the fable of the hare and tortoise ...
that the race is not always to the swift;
that there is more to life than measuring its speed.

Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak
and know that it grew slowly and well.
Inspire me to send my own roots down deep
into the soil of life's endearing values ...
that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

Slow me down, Lord

Wilfred A. Peterson