Prayer for the Hurried

Lord, slow me down. Ease the pounding of my heart by quieting my mind. Steady my hurried pace. Give me, in the confusion of my day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break down the tension of my nerves and muscles. Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep. Teach me to take minute vacations, by slowing down to look at a flower, a cloud, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines of a good book. Remind me that there is more to life than increasing speed. Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well. Lord, slow me down. Inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's values that I may grow towards you. Amen. (Author unknown)