Urgency-Averse

See last week’s devotion for Part One: Prudence

Urgent: requiring immediate action or attention.

 

He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. 

Daniel 2:15-16

I learned to be urgency averse from a tiny book called Tyranny of the Urgent by the late Charles Hummel. Out of fifteen books and Bible studies published in Hummel’s lifetime, Tyranny of the Urgent was a bestseller. It was printed in 1994, the year I married and the year I started my clinical residency as a speech-language pathologist. Many things were demanding my time and I was overwhelmed with good choices. But how to choose the best? How to see a peaceful path through the pressure? Tyranny of the Urgent invited me to slow down. To listen, look, and learn before acting.

Life can be like a never-ending series of urgencies. Pressure on every side, pressure to write that email, respond to that text, send that money, set up that meeting, read that book, read this post!

Pray more, fast more, worship more… pressure, pressure, pressure. Save the day! And do it now.

Training ourselves to be urgency-averse can change the course of our lives. It sure did for Daniel. He refused the tyranny of the urgent even when faced with death. #slowdown Share on X

Last week we learned from Daniel what it means to be prudent. King Nebuchadnezzar was furious after none of his wise men could interpret his disturbing dreams. In a rage, he sent his chief executioner to kill them all, including Daniel and his friends. Daniel responded with prudence and patience. He perceived the motive behind the king’s murderous decree: The king was afraid.

Fear drives kings and commoners alike to become frantic. And a fearful, frantic person can make disastrous decisions that affect many lives. Urgency can be deadly.

But instead of reacting with the same fear that drove the king to rashness, Daniel asked a quiet question that paused the pandemonium. He understood the potential of a powerful question to divert disaster.

Why so urgent?

The executioner, who moments before had been barking the king’s commands, grew calm and collaborative. Leaning in close, he informed Daniel about the matter.

Inform carries a dramatically different tone than execute.

Pause replaced haste, and reason replaced impulse. 

Daniel’s question produced three critical results we’d be wise to note.

1. It provided more information

2. It provided more time

3. It saved many lives

One simple question gained more information, more time, and in the end, saved many lives.

Why so urgent?

True, there is a proper time for urgency. But it’s really not that often.

Like a dashboard light flashing a warning to stop the vehicle, urgency causes me to stop what I’m doing and assess the situation. Driving faster won’t stop my engine from burning out. But pulling over may save the day (not to mention a whole lot of time and money in the long run).

Is your light flashing today? Don’t speed up. Stop a moment and ask the question that might just save your life.

Lord, teach me to be urgency-averse. Help me slow down and discern the heart of the matter. Amen.

@audreycfrank