Many of us spend too much of our days being restless, inpatient, wanting to possess objects of our desire and accomplish our often desirable goals yesterday. Would you really like to complete everything on your calendar in jig time—finishing before you even really begin? Why? Though it's true computers legitimately help speed up tasks that otherwise would take much longer. As do household appliances.
Considering slow, scripture reveals a God who is anything but quick and hasty, a God who intentionally plans and determines, for whom a single one of our 24-hour long days is not much different from a thousand years' worth of those days. Last Sunday in the lectionary we heard God speak through Moses; in Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, God commands and God promises, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" and follows with instructions for how God intends Israel to live together in covenantal community after they cross the River Jordan into the Promised Land. That happened amidst the Forty Years of Desert Wandering Event, and in fact, in the bible the number "forty" is common and prominent. Whether a happening unfolded over the course of forty days or forty years, neither of those timespans are how long it takes to shake up an instant pudding or heat up a microwave meal. Getting from one side of a country or continent to the other? Try trudging on foot or by donkey instead of flying on the socialist airline. There's something thorough, something unforgettable and memorable and savor-worthy about doing everything slowly with care. Given that God asks the people to behave with justice, truth, generosity, and love in the same manner as God routinely acts, why not also use the Slowness of God as a model for our own days, weeks, months, and years?
Illustration Note: like last FMF for weak, this week for slow I had a digitized graphic illustration already in the works. I designed the original long ago as part of a large group splashed against my living room wall; this one's much smaller, appropriate for blogging.
This is great -- to remind ourselves to "use the Slowness of God as a model." That's an attribute of God that's rarely emphasized, isn't it: we say God is loving, God is just, God is merciful -- but never that God is slow. Yet His timing is so different from ours, and His ways so much higher. Thanks for this reflection. This was a great prompt too.
ReplyDeleteJeannie (your neighbour at #50 on the FMF linkup)
The world is not good at slowing down. We all need to learn to slow down. I'm over in the 6 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteGod is definitely very deliberate. I like the illustrations you shared from His word. When you look on the lives of so many of our heroes of the faith, you can really see there was nothing fast about any of their walks. Lots of living and learning took place from point A to point B.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
Dropping by from FMF at #69.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Kelly