Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry

The title of this post is a statement from chapter 5: An Unhurried Life, The Practice of "Slowing", from the book I am currently reading... The Life You've Always Wanted by: John Ortberg. It begins with "People nowadays take time far more seriously than eternity." - Thomas Kelly
This chapter, well actually this book has means wonders to me right now! It's an amazing book on spiritual disciplines for ordinary people, one of which I certainly am, ordinary!
I have been thinking so much about this book, the hurry of life, time, rushing, and how it affects me. I have been amazed to see how hurriedness touches so many areas in my life. I have been convicted over the past two weeks... A HURRIED LIFE IS NOT LIFE AS GOD INTENDED IT! WHERE IS THE JOY IN ALL THIS HURRYING?!
As Americans, me included, time is way too important to us. It's proven that time is our #1 value...even over health, the well being of our souls, relationships, safety, God... all for what?! It's certainly not for His glory!
We have the dreaded disease of hurry sickness, here are some examples: constantly speeding up daily activities, multi-tasking, clutter, or lack of simplicity, superficiality, inability to love, etc.
In thinking about this, I am simply asking myself a ton of questions:
-What am I hurrying for, what accomplishment will result from me hurrying? Ending the day quicker? Time speeding up? Efficiency? Keeping up with the 'Jones'?
-What moods fling from me in my hurried day? Frustration with others, who aren't hurrying along with me? Impatience? Unloveliness? Anger? Pride in trying to control my time and be a lil god?
-How many times have I passed by an opportunity, from the Lord, to love someone deeply and well, all because I am hurrying on to the next thing?
-How many times have I neglected to just enjoy life and the Lord, all because I'm in a race against time?
- How many times have I not been able to hear the whisper of the Lord or Holy Spirit because the rushing noise of my life is deafening to my soul?
-Why am I rushing my life away? There won't be rushing in eternity, right? This is the warm up act for what we will do for the rest of our lives with God. I won't make it to heaven, to see Jesus face to face, any quicker by rushing...well, maybe, through a heart attack!
-Why do I abandon joy and love in order to get through something?
-Would I read another book to my nephew, if I wasn't hurried to do something else?
-Would I take time to call a friend, to encourage them, if I wasn't so worried about getting something done?
-Would I see more beauty in this life, if I slowed down to take time to look around?
Ok, enough questions...
My heart is so heavy because in looking back, I see so many times that I hurried through something that I would have really enjoyed if I had been intentionally living slower. The Lord has opened my eyes to the waste of hurrying in my life, and as I have slowed down over the past couple weeks, stress has lessened, my mind is free-er, I enjoy more things, and my heart is simply lighter.
Oh that I would stay in this slow mode forever! I want to enjoy the things in this life, instead of just passing by them in a gust of hurried fret.
Lord, please, continue to slow my life, and show me ways that I can ruthlessly elimnate hurry in order to be more like you, and live for your glory!