It’s always interesting to observe traffic tendencies in different countries. Have you noticed this? I’ve had the privilege of traveling to 40 different countries, and let me tell you, the streets of cities across the world are vastly different and endlessly fascinating. The streets of India were perhaps my favorite! They were so loud, with horns constantly blowing in angry fashion, and they were extremely diverse. At any given moment, you could look around and see traditional vehicles, tuktuks, bikes, walkers and animals all in the same small stretch of road. It was truly mesmerizing.

The streets of Addis Ababa were amazing in a different way. At first glance, it looked like pure chaos. Vehicles and people were all over the place, and it was hard for me to identify many rules being followed. I did not see stop signs, streetlights or even painted lines keeping everybody in certain sections of the road. 

However, the streets were surprisingly quiet. In the midst of all that “chaos,” there were very few horns blaring or people shouting. Nobody was crashing into others, walkers weren’t getting injured and everybody seemed to be moving safely to their destinations. 

I looked through the front windshield of my tour guide’s car with wide eyes, analyzing this traffic “flow” and making observations. Specifically, I took note of the pace at which cars were traveling. Nobody was speeding. Nobody was showing signs of road rage even though the streets had the look and layout of absolute mayhem. Everybody was driving slowly enough and alertly enough that it just worked. Humans stepped out into the street to cross to the other side without the aid of crosswalks, but drivers watched for them and navigated carefully around them. And get this—there were roundabout-type roads all over the place. It seemed like those should have triggered greater confusion, but still, things just somehow worked. The only honking I heard was in the form of short, friendly little honks from drivers who were letting another driver or pedestrian know they were there. 

It was pretty incredible to watch. At one quick glance, the streets appeared to be a big mess. But when you took the time to study what was actually happening, you realized that against all odds, things were actually operating in their own form of peace and calm. Nobody was getting hurt, nobody’s blood was boiling and nobody had their feet laying so heavy on the gas pedals that things got sketchy. It was chaotic but not chaotic at the same time. The key? A slow pace. 

Driving through those unforgettable streets in Addis Ababa, I honestly thought about the pace of my life. I tend, as many of us do, to live at a fast pace. Believe it or not, during my Africa trip, I had already decided to focus on learning from God how to slow down and walk through life at His pace. And this traffic was teaching me the lesson right before my eyes! No matter how hectic or chaotic life seems, you can still choose to operate at a slow pace—with alertness and patience. Of course, you can also choose to get swept up by your circumstances and be ruled by anxiety, panic, chaos and fear. But the choice is yours.  

Those streets could have been an absolute mess, and the only reason they weren’t was because everybody involved was moving slowly and alertly. Drivers and pedestrians alike. It was a far cry from the loud streets of New Delhi, India, and honestly, it was a far cry from the streets of my own city, where cars rush by, always on a mission to get somewhere fast. I’m closing my eyes at this moment, envisioning the streets of Addis Ababa, and just thinking about what would have happened if people had been driving at high speeds. People would have been injured, and multiple-car pileups would have been the norm. But simply because drivers moved slowly and alertly, what looked like chaos was not chaos at all.

In what ways do you need to slow down your life? How can you take a (slow 😉) step toward that today? When unexpected interruptions cross your path, do they absolutely ruin your day because of your pace? How could you create space for margin so that all of life’s inevitable commotion can ‘zipper’ its way in without wreaking havoc? 

Are you walking through life in a state of alertness? Are your senses perked to people around you who might be in need? What about the Holy Spirit’s promptings? Are you consciously staying sensitive to those? What words could you pray each morning that set the tone for living alertly—observantly, watchfully, attentively? How does the posture of your heart help you stay aware of the people and circumstances around you? 

If you choose to live with intentional slowness and alertness, I really do think you’ll end up finding a deeper peace welling up in your soul. Yes, the world around you may continue moving at lightning speed! But just because it is doesn’t mean you have to, as well. And just because a lot of things are crowding your schedule doesn’t mean you have to live in a constant state of weariness and anxiety. Move slowly. Be alert to your surroundings. 

Jesus walked from place to place throughout His ministry, and He still was able to accomplish the mission set before Him. He looked at the people around Him, interacted with them, had long conversations, stopped to help and heal them, and shared countless meals with them. (Doubtfully any of that drive-through-and-eat-on-the-go business.) There was often a lot going on! Crowds pressed in to hear Him teach and ask for healing, religious leaders were constantly trying to trap Him, and political leaders plotted to kill Him. Chaos! But not for Jesus. He chose to move slowly—carefully, intentionally, steadily, unhurriedly. And He chose to stay alert to His surroundings. He emanated peace, calm, intentionality and a slow pace of living even in the midst of the frenzy that often encircled and followed even Him.

How is He calling you to do this today?