LEARNING TO SLOW DOWN

Monday, April 16, 2007

High speed internet, HOV lanes on the freeway, drive-through lanes at banks and fast-food restaurants, are all signs of a fast moving society.

Yesterday after church, my wife, daughter and I went to First Watch for lunch. The restaurant was packed out and people were waiting outside. We were told, “Your wait will be twenty minutes.” (Isn’t it funny? It’s always twenty minutes regardless of how many people are waiting.)

It was absolutely beautiful outside and I was with two people I love and everybody sitting around seemed to be in a good mood. It should have been a pleasant experience—and it was. But I complained because the wait was thirty minutes instead of twenty. I was a little irritated at the thought that all of the people ahead of us probably just “rolled out of bed” and waddled over for breakfast instead of going to church. And I wanted to get on with it and get home and start watching the baseball game.

Later I remembered something from Darryl Tippen’s marvelous book, Pilgrim Heart—The Way Of Jesus In Everyday Life: “I’ve joined a movement that has brought me some peace. It’s the “slowing movement.” I cultivate patience by deliberately choosing to place myself in positions where I have to wait.” This is good stuff!

Maybe we won’t deliberately choose to wait but when we do have to wait we can learn that “slowing” is good for us.