Saw
someone in the gym this morning wearing a T-shirt promoting Caribbean vacations
and island time. The words emblazoned across the back of the shirt read “Rushing Slowly”. If you’ve ever
vacationed on one of the Caribbean islands you likely would understand the
intended meaning. Island time is measured so we are encouraged to slow down our
hectic lifestyles and to savor the vacation pace.
A
Caribbean vacation is supposed to recharge our lives, prepare us to return to
our previous businesses of life. Unfortunately for most of us, a Caribbean
vacation is not permanent, nor is the positive aftereffects permanent. Vacations
feel good for the moment, but once we leave that vacation spot we must return
to our previous reality … dealing with the quick, fast and sometimes slow aspects
of our lives … we desire another vacation to recharge.
The
Epistle of James speaks of times to be quick and be slow, but for an entirely
different end. Most vacations are needed to recharge our “batteries” so we can
return to the very lifestyle that got us to that needy place.
James
1:19-20(paraphrased):
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen,
slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness
God desires. So get rid of all the evil in your lives, and humbly accept the
word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
There
is a time to be quick and a time to be slow. James speaks of the need to
quickly accept the Word that God has planted in our hearts. As well there is an
appropriate time to be slow, allowing time for the Word to settle into our
spirit and take over our lives.
Robert
Parlante
May
2015
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