Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Slow Living: Resisting the Need for Speed

Slow Living: Resisting the Need for Speed

Last updated on: June 17, 2015 at 11:02 pm by Deborah Arca

1 Comment

Slow Living: Resisting the Need for Speed 2015-06-17T23:02:44+00:00 Deborah Arca

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

“When do we ever find such deep permission, to stop, to see that it is good, this world, this life, this day? Just as it is, without our effort or interference? When do we hear the call, when do we allow ourselves to surrender so completely to non-productive time, to be allowed to be stopped, to rest, to allow things to be as they are, and to marvel at the unattended miracle of it all? — Wayne Muller, author of Sabbath and A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough

Wayne Muller, an absolute gem of a human being and writer on the unhurried life, has offered an exquisite piece on Sabbath and the need to slow down and savor the miracle of our lives for the Patheos June Public Square on “Slow Living.” You must take a moment to read his words today. You will be the better for it, I promise. Other writers from around Patheos are contributing to the topic as well.

This conversation on slow living just so happens to coincide with my own experience of both childlike glee and adult confusion about what to do with all the “white space” on my calendar this summer. In some mysterious twist of fate, the calendar gods have conspired in such a way that my normally densely dotted schedule of work events, church meetings, choir practices, family affairs, and projects to do has opened up entirely … so much so that I keep wondering if I’m forgetting something I need to be doing (kind of like that recurring dream I have about getting to the end of a college semester and realizing I never attended one of my classes!). In fact, I’ve noticed I’m slightly uncomfortable with all the white space. Should I take some vocal jazz classes? Should I join a community service project for the summer? Should I learn how to knit? Paint? Speak Spanish? It’s almost as if I can’t handle the slow, the nothing, the free time, the open space. While I rejoice in the slowdown of my life, I’m also strangely resistant.

And as wise spiritual directors have told me over the years, listen to the resistance. It has something to tell you.

So I’m listening. I’m trying to listen to what my resistance to slowing down is trying to tell me.

And here’s what interesting. While I’m listening for the deeper lesson lurking within my resistance, I’m also listening to what leaning into the open spaces is trying to tell me about living. And I’m noticing some things.

I’m noticing that I’m listening to my boyfriend less hurriedly and with more compassion, and looking into his eyes more deeply. I’m noticing our family is cooking together, eating slower and savoring the flavors. I’m noticing I’m sitting down to play Monopoly with the boys, and taking bike rides with them with no agendas or time limits. And I’m noticing how that’s changing the nature of our relationship and drawing us closer.

I’m noticing how I’m actually writing a blogpost, the first in a very long time, and following an idea to the end. I’m reading a book. All the way through. I’m noticing how, when I get home and get out of the car, I drop my bags, walk to the grass and turn around, taking in the big trees, the blue sky, the fading flowers, the unruly garden. I’m noticing how my body feels when I do that, where I need to stretch out, or roll my shoulders. I notice I’m laughing out loud, at the goofy energy and playfulness of the dogs as they race out of the house to greet me.

I’m noticing how relaxed and less agitated I am when I wake up (and when I go to sleep). I’m noticing that I’m purging my house of clutter. I’m catching up on some really good movies, and they’re making me think and feel deeply. I’m noticing a deep sense of joy within me for the simple things. I’m noticing gratitude.

Sabbath.

Self-absorbed? Maybe. Or maybe … other-absorbed is the better way to put it.

Work is always there. But open space, in this world, can be fleeting. So what if we embraced it, lingered in it, for a season, and noticed what happened?

Again, from Wayne Muller:

“This is what it is to live in Sabbath time. To see, taste, touch, smell, listen to the still, small voices, rejoice in the simple elegance of Life itself, in all its sensual splendor. And, nearly giddy with excitement, to drink long and deep from the sheer magnitude of experiencing all of it in this body, with all our senses, an ecstatic prayer of gratitude erupting in our hearts, grateful for the astonishing privilege of being alive, free of struggle or striving, awash in the midst of this unimaginably beautiful creation God made for us.”

Image: Shutterstock.com

Previous Post

June 11, 2015

English Class Leaves Woman Speechless

Next Post

June 19, 2015 Ambassadors of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21): The Massacre of the Beloved in Charleston, SC

Recent Comments

1 Comment | Leave a Comment

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Advent Author Interviews Battle Over the Body and Blood of Christ Bearing Beauty Book Reviews Christian Education christian spirituallity christianity Christmas Church Church Leadership Contemplation Creation Care Death and Dying Death Penalty Disruptive Change Disruptors Series Easter Education Evolution and Faith Future of Progressive Christianity Gun Violence Health & Wellness Holy Week Interfaith Israel-Palestine Leading Differently Lent LGBTQ Living with Cancer Meditations on the Cross Mental Illness millennials Mimetic Mondays Monday Meditations Movie Reviews New Monasticism Pando Populus Parenting Patheos 10+1 Q&A Series PC(USA) Politics Pop Culture Practical Theology Series Prayer progressive christian Race Relations Reformation religion Religion and Politics Religion in America Rethink Church Social Justice Spirituality Spirituality of the Body Stump a Scholar Technology and Faith Thanksgiving Theodicy Trust Me Church Uncategorized Why I'm Still Christian Youth Ministry

Select a Month December 2025 April 2025 January 2025 September 2023 September 2022 May 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 October 2021 May 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was known as a man after God’s own heart?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Moses Samuel Solomon