Slow me down, Lord

Slow me down, Lord. 
     Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. 
     Steady my hurried pace. 
     Give me, amidst the day's confusion 
     the calmness of the everlasting hills. 

     Break the tension of my nerves and muscles 
     with the soothing music of singing streams 
     that live in my memory. 

     Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. 
     Teach me the art of taking minute vacations.... 
     slowing down to look at a flower, 
     to chat with a friend, 
     to read a few lines from a good book. 

     Remind me 
     of the fable of the hare and the tortoise; 
     that the race is not always to the swift; 
     that there is more to life than measuring its speed. 
     Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak 
     and know that ... it grew slowly ... and well. 

     Inspire me 
     to send my own roots down deep... 
     into the soil of life's endearing values... 

     That I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny. 

     Slow me down, Lord.

From Killnarney Catherdal, Ireland