Monday, February 16, 2004

The Music Won't Last

As we struggle with the fast-pace of our over scheduled lives, perhaps we all need to re-think our priorities. The following poem Titled Slow Dance (author unknown), powerfully demonstrates how our frenetic life styles can distract us from the true joys of life.

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round
Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down – Don’t dance so fast
Time is short – The music won’t last

Do you run through each day on the fly
When you ask “How are you?” do you hear the reply?
When the day is done, do you lie in bed
With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You better slow down – Don’t dance so fast
Time is short – The music won’t last

Ever told your child, “We’ll do it tomorrow”
And in your haste, not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die
‘Cause you never had time to call and say “Hi?”
You better slow down – Don’t dance so fast
Time is short – The music won’t last

When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift… Thrown away…
Life is not a race. Do take it slower.
Hear the music, Before the song is over.

As the last stanza of this poem suggests, we all likely have plenty of gifts left unopened. This afternoon, why not take the time to open a few. Toss a ball. Shoots some baskets. Have a pretend tea party. Take a walk. If none of these things can fit into our hectic schedules, maybe we need to slow down, hear the music...before the song is over!

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