Hurry Is an Attitude
-An exclusive excerpt from Allen’s new book-
“My life feels like a movie being fast-forwarded at lightning speed.”
I was rationalizing this insanely blurry pace to my friend John Moorhead many years ago. He patiently sipped his tea and let me continue. “I start each day in a hurry, get a lot done, collapse in bed each night, and do it all over again.” I wasn’t really looking for a solution, because I didn’t believe there was one.
Perhaps he’d be impressed at how productive I was or share how busy he was. Instead, he waited patiently until I finally ran out of words. Then, after a moment of silence, he met my eyes with empathy.
“Allen, have you ever considered that hurry is an attitude?” I looked at him as if he’d said the earth was flat. He continued, “I’m serious. Hurry is an attitude that comes from an agreement with a lie that God expects more of us than we can do each day. Hurry isn’t inevitable. It’s just an attitude.”
That was a new thought. If hurry is inescapable, I am trapped. But if it’s just an attitude, then I can change my relationship with it. I could become an unhurried man.
John is in the kingdom now. His headstone contains these unforgettable words: “End of Construction. Thank You for Your Patience.” But that conversation continues to color every aspect of my life, including my creativity. It started me on a journey. It’s impossible to breathe life into others or my art when I’m running so fast I can’t catch my own breath. Jesus understands—and offers a far better alternative.
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)
Let Jesus replace your hurry with his unforced rhythms of grace.
(From The Creativity Glitch: How to Stop Being Stuck, Find Your Groove, & Create with God.Copyright © 2026 Allen Arnold.)
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