In today's fast-paced world, many of us find ourselves constantly rushing from one task to the next, barely able to catch our breath. We're always busy, always connected, and always trying to squeeze more into each day. But at what cost? In "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry," pastor John Mark Comer argues that this perpetual state of hurry is not only detrimental to our physical and mental health but also to our spiritual well-being.
Comer's book is a wake-up call for those of us caught in the rat race of modern life. Drawing inspiration from the life and teachings of Jesus, he presents a compelling case for slowing down and offers practical strategies for eliminating hurry from our lives. This isn't just another self-help book about time management or productivity. Instead, it's a guide to rediscovering the joy and fulfillment that come from living at a more intentional, unhurried pace.
The Problem of Hurry
The Hurry Disease
Comer begins by sharing his personal experience with what he calls the "hurry disease." As a successful pastor of a rapidly growing church in Portland, Oregon, Comer appeared to have it all. His church was thriving, with thousands of new members joining each year. He was married with children and had authored several books. On paper, his life looked perfect.
However, beneath the surface, Comer was struggling. He worked six days a week, often teaching up to six classes a day. The constant pressure and stress were taking their toll. He found himself snapping at his staff, his relationships were strained, and at night, he would collapse on the couch, too exhausted to do anything but mindlessly watch TV.
Comer's story is not unique. Many of us can relate to feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and disconnected from our lives despite outward signs of success. We're so busy rushing from one thing to the next that we fail to appreciate the moments that make up our lives.
The Cost of Hurry
The consequences of living in a constant state of hurry are far-reaching. Physically, it can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and a host of stress-related health issues. Emotionally, it can cause anxiety, irritability, and a sense of disconnection from ourselves and others.
But perhaps most significantly, Comer argues that hurry is a threat to our spiritual lives. When we're always rushing, we don't have time for prayer, reflection, or connecting with our faith. We become too busy to nurture our relationship with God or to practice the love and compassion that are at the heart of most spiritual teachings.
Comer quotes psychologist Carl Jung, who said, "Hurry is not of the devil; hurry is the devil." While this might seem extreme, Comer points out that hurry prevents us from living out our values and being present in our lives. It's hard to be loving and patient when we're always in a rush. It's difficult to appreciate the beauty of the world around us when we're constantly looking at our phones or thinking about the next item on our to-do list.
The Technological Trap
One of the main culprits behind our modern state of hurry is technology. Comer traces how inventions like the mechanical clock, the light bulb, and more recently, the smartphone have fundamentally altered our relationship with time.
Before the invention of clocks, people lived according to the natural rhythms of the sun and moon. The advent of public clock towers in the 14th century began to change this, imposing a more rigid structure on our days. The invention of the light bulb in 1879 further extended our waking hours, reducing the average American's sleep from eleven hours a night to just seven.
While these technologies have undoubtedly brought many benefits, they've also contributed to our culture of busyness and hurry. Smartphones, in particular, have become a major time sink. A study cited by Comer found that the average iPhone user touches their phone an astonishing 2,617 times per day!
The irony is that while these technologies were meant to save us time, they often end up consuming more of it. We fill every spare moment checking emails, scrolling through social media, or responding to messages. The constant connectivity means we're never truly "off," leading to a state of perpetual busyness.
The Myth of More Time
Many of us fall into the trap of thinking that if we just had more time, we could do everything we want to do. But Comer argues that this is a fallacy. Even if we had ten extra hours in each day, we'd likely just fill them with more activities and tasks.
The problem isn't a lack of time, but rather our "fear of missing out" (FOMO) mentality. We try to do everything, see every movie, listen to every podcast, travel to every country. But this is an impossible and exhausting way to live.
Instead of wishing for more time, Comer suggests we need to accept our limitations and focus on what's truly important to us. We all have different personalities, talents, and circumstances that influence what we can realistically accomplish. Recognizing and accepting these limitations can be liberating, allowing us to make conscious choices about how we spend our time rather than trying to do it all.
The Solution: Learning from Jesus
Jesus as a Model
In seeking a solution to the problem of hurry, Comer turns to an unexpected source: Jesus Christ. While we often think of the Bible as a book of moral teachings, Comer points out that it's also a biography, providing detailed accounts of how Jesus lived his daily life.
What's striking about these accounts is that Jesus, despite having an incredibly important mission and many demands on his time, was never in a hurry. He was busy, certainly, but he moved through life with a sense of calm and purpose. He took time to be fully present with people, to retreat for prayer and solitude, and to enjoy meals with friends.
Comer argues that by emulating Jesus's lifestyle, we can learn to live more meaningful, unhurried lives. While our modern context is very different from Jesus's time, many of his practices can be adapted to help us prioritize what truly matters and resist the culture of hurry.
Four Practices for Eliminating Hurry
Drawing inspiration from Jesus's example, Comer presents four key practices for eliminating hurry from our lives:
- Silence and Solitude
- Sabbath
- Simplicity
- Slowing Down
Let's explore each of these practices in more detail.
1. Silence and Solitude
In our noisy, constantly connected world, moments of true silence and solitude have become rare. Even when we're physically alone, we're often mentally engaged with our phones, filling every moment with stimulation.
Jesus, however, regularly sought out time alone. Despite the constant demands on his time, he would often rise early or stay up late to find moments of solitude for prayer and reflection.
Comer argues that we, too, need to prioritize silence and solitude in our lives. This doesn't mean we need to become hermits or spend hours in meditation (though that can be beneficial). Instead, it might mean getting up a bit earlier to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee before the rest of the household wakes up. Or it could involve taking a walk without headphones, allowing ourselves to be present with our thoughts and surroundings.
The benefits of this practice can be profound. Silence and solitude allow us to reconnect with ourselves, process our emotions, and gain clarity on what's truly important. It can help reduce anxiety and increase our capacity for empathy and compassion.
Implementing this practice might feel uncomfortable at first. We're so used to constant stimulation that silence can feel unsettling. We might encounter thoughts or emotions we've been avoiding. But Comer encourages us to persist, assuring us that over time, we'll discover that solitude is far from lonely – it's a path to deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
2. Sabbath
The concept of a weekly day of rest is central to many religions, including Christianity. Even God, in the biblical creation story, rested on the seventh day after creating the world. Yet in our modern, 24/7 society, the idea of taking a full day off each week can seem almost radical.
Comer argues that we need to reclaim the practice of Sabbath – a day set aside for rest and worship. This doesn't necessarily mean adhering to strict religious rules, but rather creating space in our week for true rest and rejuvenation.
What does a modern Sabbath look like? It might involve turning off our phones and avoiding work-related tasks. It could mean spending time in nature, enjoying leisurely meals with loved ones, or engaging in hobbies and activities that bring us joy. The key is that it's a time to step out of our normal routines and responsibilities and focus on rest, relationships, and spiritual renewal.
Sabbath is not just about physical rest, though that's important. It's also about mental and emotional rest – a break from the constant pressure to be productive and achieve. It's a reminder that our worth is not tied to our work or accomplishments, but is inherent in who we are.
Implementing a regular Sabbath practice can be challenging in our busy world. It might require saying no to certain commitments or rearranging our schedules. But Comer argues that the benefits – increased creativity, improved relationships, better mental health, and a deeper sense of peace and contentment – are well worth the effort.
3. Simplicity
Our consumer culture constantly bombards us with messages that we need more – more possessions, more experiences, more achievements – to be happy and fulfilled. But Comer, drawing on Jesus's teachings, argues that the path to a meaningful life often involves having less, not more.
Jesus lived simply, taking only what he needed and prioritizing relationships and spiritual growth over material possessions. While we don't need to give away all our possessions to live a good life, Comer suggests that simplifying our lives can free up time and energy for what truly matters.
Practical steps towards simplicity might include:
- Decluttering our homes, keeping only what we truly need or love
- Evaluating our purchases more carefully, considering whether we really need an item before buying it
- Sharing resources with others (like participating in a car-share scheme)
- Focusing on experiences and relationships rather than material goods
Simplicity isn't about deprivation, but about intentionality. It's about choosing to focus our resources – our time, money, and energy – on what aligns with our values and brings genuine fulfillment.
Comer also challenges the idea that we need money to enjoy life. Many of life's greatest pleasures – a walk in nature, a conversation with a friend, the warmth of sunlight on our face – are free. By cultivating an appreciation for these simple joys, we can find contentment without constantly chasing after more.
4. Slowing Down
The final practice Comer recommends is perhaps the most straightforward, yet also the most challenging in our fast-paced world: simply slowing down.
We've become so accustomed to rushing that we often hurry even when there's no real need to. We get impatient in line at the grocery store, we weave through traffic to shave a few minutes off our commute, we multitask constantly in an effort to get more done.
Comer suggests intentionally choosing to slow down in various aspects of our lives. This might mean:
- Driving at the speed limit and letting others merge in front of us
- Single-tasking instead of multitasking
- Taking time to savor our meals instead of eating on the go
- Walking more slowly and noticing our surroundings
The goal isn't to make our lives less efficient overall, but to break the habit of constant rushing and create space for mindfulness and presence.
Comer also recommends "parenting" our phones – putting them to bed early in the evening, using a "dumb phone" without email or social media capabilities, or setting specific times for checking messages rather than being constantly available.
Slowing down can feel uncomfortable at first. We might worry about falling behind or not getting everything done. But over time, this practice can lead to greater peace of mind, improved focus, and a richer experience of life.
Implementing the Practices
While these four practices – silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and slowing down – can be transformative, implementing them in our busy lives can be challenging. Comer offers several suggestions for putting these ideas into practice:
Start Small
Don't try to overhaul your entire life overnight. Start with small, manageable changes. Maybe begin with five minutes of silence each morning, or try driving more slowly on your commute. As these small changes become habits, you can gradually expand your practice.
Be Patient
Changing ingrained habits takes time. You might find yourself slipping back into old patterns of hurry and busyness. When this happens, don't beat yourself up. Simply notice it and gently redirect yourself back to your intention to live more slowly and mindfully.
Customize Your Approach
While Comer's practices are inspired by Jesus's example, they can be adapted to fit different lifestyles and belief systems. The important thing is to find ways to create space for rest, reflection, and intentional living that work for you.
Involve Others
Share your intentions with family, friends, or a community group. Having support and accountability can make it easier to stick with these practices, especially when they go against the grain of our hurried culture.
Reflect and Adjust
Regularly take time to reflect on how these practices are impacting your life. Are you feeling less stressed? More connected to yourself and others? More spiritually fulfilled? Use these reflections to guide you in adjusting and refining your approach.
The Benefits of Eliminating Hurry
As we implement these practices and begin to eliminate hurry from our lives, Comer promises that we'll start to see significant benefits:
Improved Mental and Emotional Health
By reducing the constant pressure and stress of hurry, we can experience less anxiety and greater emotional balance. We become better equipped to handle life's challenges with calm and resilience.
Enhanced Relationships
When we're not rushing, we have more capacity to be fully present with others. We can listen more attentively, respond more thoughtfully, and cultivate deeper, more meaningful connections.
Increased Productivity and Creativity
Counterintuitively, slowing down can actually make us more productive. When we're not constantly switching between tasks or filling every moment with activity, we can focus more deeply and think more creatively.
Deeper Spiritual Life
For those with religious or spiritual inclinations, eliminating hurry creates space for prayer, meditation, and spiritual growth. We can cultivate a deeper connection with God or our sense of the sacred.
Greater Joy and Fulfillment
Perhaps most importantly, eliminating hurry allows us to more fully experience and appreciate our lives. We can savor moments of beauty, find joy in simple pleasures, and live with greater intentionality and purpose.
Conclusion
"The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" is a powerful call to resist the culture of busyness and reclaim a slower, more intentional way of living. By drawing on the example of Jesus and implementing practices of silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and slowing down, we can break free from the tyranny of hurry and rediscover what it means to truly live.
Comer's message is particularly relevant in our modern world, where technology and societal pressures constantly push us to do more, be more, and achieve more. His book reminds us that our worth is not determined by our productivity or accomplishments, but by who we are at our core.
Eliminating hurry is not easy. It requires conscious effort and often goes against the grain of our society. But the rewards – greater peace, deeper relationships, improved health, and a richer experience of life – are well worth the effort.
As we close this summary, it's worth reflecting on our own lives. Where do we see the effects of hurry? How might our lives be different if we weren't always rushing? What small steps can we take today to begin eliminating hurry from our lives?
Remember, the goal is not to become idle or unproductive, but to live with greater intentionality and presence. It's about choosing to focus our time and energy on what truly matters, rather than being swept along by the currents of busyness and distraction.
In a world that seems to be moving ever faster, Comer's message is a refreshing reminder that we have the power to choose a different way. By ruthlessly eliminating hurry from our lives, we open ourselves up to a richer, more fulfilling way of living – one that allows us to be fully present in our lives, nurture our relationships, and cultivate a deeper connection with ourselves and the world around us.
So take a deep breath. Slow down. And consider how you might begin to eliminate hurry from your life today. The journey towards a less hurried life may not always be easy, but as Comer's book powerfully argues, it's a journey well worth taking.