Are you always in a rush? Does it feel like there’s never enough time to do everything you need to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pastor and author John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry<\/em> explores our cultural obsession with rushing and examines how it harms our relationships, health, and spirituality. Comer argues that you can escape this culture of rushing by following the lifestyle of Jesus<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Continue reading for an overview of this insightful book that can put you on the path to an unhurried life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n You wake up, gulp down your coffee while speed-reading the news, and half-listen to a podcast during your rushed morning commute. You spend your workday juggling tasks before finally returning home and sinking into the couch, your brain fried and your heart pounding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If any aspects of this scene describe your typical day, you know what it\u2019s like to rush through life. John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry<\/em><\/a><\/em> provides insights into what it means to rush through life, why we rush, and how doing so harms us and others. Comer shares advice on how to live a slower, more fulfilling life<\/a> by following Jesus\u2019s lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n John Mark Comer<\/a> is the author of six books on Christianity and the co-host of several podcasts about spirituality. He\u2019s also the founding pastor at Portland\u2019s Bridgetown Church<\/a>, which helps its congregants model their lifestyles after Jesus\u2019s. Comer says that prior to publishing The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry<\/em> in 2019, he was a burned-out and overbooked pastor of a megachurch, struggling to juggle his responsibilities as a pastor, father, and husband. In this book, he shares the practices, mindsets, and biblical wisdom that helped him slow down, strengthen his relationships, recover his health, and reconnect with God and Jesus. While Hurry <\/em>is written primarily for Christian readers, Comer\u2019s insights on slowing down your life may be relevant to non-Christian readers as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Comer, busyness can be either negative or positive. <\/strong>He draws a distinction between what we\u2019ll call a lively <\/em>lifestyle (positive busyness) and a rushed<\/em> lifestyle (negative busyness):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why do we live rushed lifestyles? Comer says that our culture values speed and that this value compels us to rush.<\/strong> Our culture surrounds us with messages that it\u2019s better to be fast than slow. We internalize these messages and arrange our lives to match the speed of the world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer identifies a belief that contributes to maintaining the pervasive culture of speed: the delusion that we can do everything we want. <\/strong>Comer calls this a delusion because, in reality, we don\u2019t have enough time to do it all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer argues that <\/strong>over time, rushing has the opposite effect of meaningful experiences: Rushing <\/strong>degrades <\/em><\/strong>your relationships, spirituality, health, and sense of purpose.<\/strong> Let\u2019s explore each of these perils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Comer, it\u2019s impossible to maintain strong, loving relationships when you live a rushed lifestyle. <\/strong>Here, we\u2019ll highlight two ways that rushing harms your relationships. First, rushing makes you stressed, and this stress makes you less patient and gentle around your loved ones. <\/strong>Over time, this behavior strains your relationships. Second, <\/strong>when you\u2019re rushing, you\u2019re preoccupied with being efficient and productive, which leaves you less emotionally available to others.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Comer, rushing also harms another relationship: your connection with God. <\/strong>Meaningless activities snatch your attention away from spiritual practice. Your prayers start getting shorter, you begin skipping church, and your nightstand Bible starts to collect dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer says that in addition to weakening your relationships, rushing degrades your mental and physical health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mental health: <\/strong>As previously noted, a rushed lifestyle is stressful. If unaddressed, this stress can harm your long-term mental health. For example, imagine your child is having a tough time in school. You love them deeply, but you feel too busy<\/a> to provide them with the close support they need. Every time you think about your child, feelings of worry and guilt arise. You believe that you\u2019ve failed as a parent, which lowers your self-esteem. If you fail to manage your worries and recover your self-esteem, you may start experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical health: <\/strong>According to Comer, a rushed lifestyle also harms your physical health. When you\u2019re rushing, you make less time for quality sleep, exercise, and healthy eating. Failing to meet these basic needs also increases your chances of getting sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, Comer says that when you\u2019re rushing, you lose your sense of purpose in life<\/a>. <\/strong>Meaningful experiences give your life purpose<\/a>, but you can\u2019t fully engage in such experiences if you\u2019re preoccupied with meaningless tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve explored the perils of rushing and why we rush, let\u2019s turn to Comer\u2019s solution. He argues that you can prioritize meaningful experiences and commit to a life free of rushing by following the lifestyle of Jesus. <\/strong>According to the Bible\u2019s four gospels\u2014which amount to Jesus\u2019s biography<\/a>\u2014Jesus had a lively lifestyle, not a rushed one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll begin this section by looking closely at a particular passage of the Bible, one in which Jesus calls upon his believers to follow his lifestyle. Then we\u2019ll present Comer\u2019s insights on how to model your lifestyle after Jesus\u2019s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer emphasizes a particular passage from the Bible, Matthew 11:28-30, that sheds light on Jesus\u2019s hope that his followers adopt his lifestyle: \u201cCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s explore Comer\u2019s interpretation of two specific lines from this passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 11:28: \u201cCome to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.\u201d<\/strong> Comer says that here, Jesus acknowledges that life\u2019s burdens wear people out spiritually, mentally, and physically. He invites them to experience rest from these burdens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Matthew 11:30: \u201cFor my yoke is easy and my burden is light.\u201d<\/strong> A yoke is a beam that rests across the shoulders of a pair of oxen, enabling them to pull weight. Comer argues that Jesus is saying that he\u2019s figured out a method\u2014symbolized by the yoke\u2014to make life more bearable. You can achieve this same result by mimicking his method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to these passages, Jesus urged his followers to mimic his lifestyle\u2014but what was<\/em> his lifestyle, specifically? Lastly, we\u2019ll highlight three habits that allowed Jesus to live a meaningful lifestyle free of rushing, and we\u2019ll explore how you can mimic his lifestyle even in modern times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, according to Comer, you can mimic Jesus\u2019s lifestyle by slowing the tempo of your daily life. <\/strong>We\u2019ll begin this section by describing the pace of Jesus\u2019s lifestyle; then, we\u2019ll explore why and how you might model the pace of your life after his.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The idea that Jesus\u2019s life was slow-paced and free of rushing may surprise you. Comer says that most people think of Jesus as someone who rushed from town to town, healing the sick and preaching to as many people as he could. However, Comer explains that this portrayal is inaccurate: Jesus never rushed <\/em>in his endeavors. <\/strong>For instance, he took his time visiting and healing the sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How will it benefit you to follow Jesus\u2019s example and slow the tempo of your daily life? Comer explains that slowing the pace of your daily life increases your <\/strong>patience<\/em><\/strong>. If you eliminate the pressure of speed, you\u2019ll no longer feel impatient when events in everyday life take a while. Comer insists that increased patience will improve your health<\/a>, relationships, and spirituality. Let\u2019s further explore each of these benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, patience helps you feel more relaxed.<\/strong> When you move at a slower pace, you\u2019re less stressed, and this is good for your mental health. Second, when you\u2019re more patient, you treat others better. This improves your relationships.<\/strong> Third, patience provides you with opportunities for spiritual contemplation. <\/strong>While you\u2019re waiting patiently\u2014such as standing in a long line at the post office\u2014you\u2019ll have the opportunity to pray to God. This will improve your relationship<\/a> with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can you experience the benefits of a slow-paced, patient lifestyle? Comer recommends gamifying <\/em>patience: making a joyful game out of slowing down.<\/strong> He says that gamification will motivate you to slow down your life<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Comer suggests that you make a game of only engaging with technology during specific, scheduled times. <\/strong>Consider scheduling one time of day when you can check social media and another time when you can check your email. That way, you won\u2019t waste too much time on either action. Comer says you can make this a game by setting ambitious rules and challenging yourself to stick to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to slowing the overall pace of your everyday life, Comer says you should slow down for a full day<\/em> every week\u2014the Sabbath. <\/strong>This day provides an opportunity to take a break from your usual, rushed routine (such as work and chores) so you can engage in slow-paced, meaningful, and spiritual experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ll begin this section by exploring why Jesus honored the Sabbath, as you may be inspired by his example. Then, we\u2019ll discuss how you<\/em> can best honor the Sabbath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Gospels reveal that Jesus regularly honored the Sabbath. <\/strong>According to Comer, Jesus did so for multiple reasons. First, he did so to obey God\u2019s commandment. <\/strong>One of God\u2019s Ten Commandments is \u201cRemember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy\u201d (Exodus 20:8). By \u201ckeeping it holy,\u201d God meant taking a break from your typical routine to spend the day worshiping him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, Jesus honored the Sabbath to experience enjoyment. <\/strong>When the Pharisees critiqued Jesus and his followers for how they spent their Sabbath, Jesus replied, \u201cThe Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath\u201d (Mark 2:27). Comer interprets this line to mean that God created the Sabbath as a gift for us to enjoy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Third, Jesus honored the Sabbath to continue a tradition of resisting oppression. <\/strong>The Old Testament explains this connection between honoring the Sabbath and fighting oppression: Moses delivers the Ten Commandments to an audience of slaves who escaped Egypt, and the commandment about the Sabbath reads: \u201cRemember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day\u201d (Deuteronomy 5:15). According to Comer\u2019s interpretation of this passage, this commandment frames rest as a form of resistance<\/a> against oppression.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOverview of John Mark Comer’s The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Issue: We Rush Through Life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Why We Rush<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Four Perils of Rushing<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Peril 1: Weak Relationships<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Peril 2: Disconnection From God<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Peril 3: Poor Health<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Peril 4: A Lack of Purpose<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
The Remedy: Follow Jesus\u2019s Lifestyle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Jesus\u2019s Call to Follow His Lifestyle<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Habit 1: Slow Your Daily Tempo<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Jesus\u2019s Daily Tempo<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Why You Should Slow Your Daily Tempo<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
How to Live a Slow-Paced, Patient Lifestyle<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Habit 2: Honor the Sabbath<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
How Jesus Honored the Sabbath<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
How to Honor the Sabbath<\/h5>\n\n\n\n