“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
A Can of Tuna on the Roof
Earlier today, I took Ben, my dog, to visit my mom. Before letting Ben into the back seat of the car, I placed a can of tuna on the roof. It was meant for my mom.
Then we drove off.
More than halfway there, it suddenly hit me. I had left the can of tuna on the roof of the car. I imagined it rolling off at the first corner or splattering somewhere along the road. When we arrived, the first thing I did after getting out of the car was to look up.
There it was. The can of tuna. Still sitting neatly on the roof.
When I shared this story with my family, my brother laughed and said, “That just means you drive very carefully.” He was right. I did not accelerate suddenly. I did not rush. I did not drive faster than I needed to.
Being mindful, it turns out, matters more than we think.
When Mindfulness Goes Missing
This was not my first rooftop incident. On another occasion, I placed Ben’s urine sample on the roof before driving to the vet clinic.
That sample did not survive the journey.
Same habit. Very different outcome.
The difference was not the object. It was the pace. One journey was careful and unhurried. The other was rushed and distracted.
Slowing Down Helps Us Remember What Matters
Life often feels like that. We move quickly, juggling responsibilities, ticking boxes, and rushing from one thing to the next. As a result, we forget things. Sometimes small things. Sometimes important ones.
This is also true in our spiritual lives.
We can read the Bible without really listening. We can pray without really engaging. We can worship while our minds are elsewhere. Over time, faith becomes something we go through rather than something we enter.
Taking God Seriously, Not Casually
God invites us to be intentional. When we slow down to read Scripture, to pray, to worship, and to wait, we make room for God to speak.
Being intentional before God is not about doing more. Instead, it is about being present. It is about choosing to take God seriously rather than treating spiritual practices as habits to complete.
Just as careful driving kept that can of tuna in place, a slower, more attentive heart helps us stay grounded in faith.
Choosing Presence Over Motion
As we move through busy days, perhaps the invitation is simple. Slow down. Pay attention. Be present.
Not everything needs to be rushed. Not every moment needs to be filled. When we approach God with intention, we often find that He has been waiting for us all along.
A Short Prayer
I invite you to say this prayer.
Father, help me to slow down and be intentional. Teach me to seek You with intention and not merely out of habit. As I read Your Word, pray, and worship, help me to be fully present. I want to take You seriously and walk closely with You. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.
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