Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Rushing Slowly

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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