The Message from Rome: Slow the Hell Down

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:42 pm by Tony Jones

The Message from Rome: Slow the Hell Down 2015-03-13T16:42:34-05:00 Tony Jones

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.

I first walked into Ibiz leather shop in 1989 as a college student, and I walked out with the nicest belt I’d ever owned. I walked back in yesterday, took the belt off my waist, and handed it to the daughter of the man who’d sold it to me years before. Her parents opened the shop on an alley in the ancient city in 1972. They still work there, as does she, these many years later. She cleaned my belt, punched another hole in it (alas!), and we talked about the many and various items that I’ve bought from her over the years.

It’s a bit cliché to talk about the slower pace of life in the Mediterranean countries, especially in Italy, but it’s also accurate, and apt. All is not bright in this country — they’re on their 50-something government since WWII, the government is rife with corruption and in-fighting, and the weakness of the Italian economy may be the thing that brings down the Euro.

A lot has also been made about the recent report that Italy is losing population. It’s one of the few countries in the world that is getting smaller. It won’t be able to compete in the global economy, some fear, without a higher birthrate and more, more, more.

All this has got me thinking about my own place, my homeland in the Upper Midwest of the US. Predictably, I listen almost exclusively to NPR while in the car. And as much as I enjoy it, I’ve become completely sick of the business news. Marketplace Morning tells me whether the Dow Jones average is up or down in pre-market trading, and All Things Considered tells me every month whether new housing started are up .2% or down .6%. Apple is in trouble!, they nearly shout, because although the newest iPhone sold more than any other model on its first day, the company is not growing as fast as it was under Steve Jobs!!!

Did you catch that? It’s not that Apple is shrinking. It’s not that Apple is not growing. It’s that Apple is not growing as quickly as it once did.

Then there’s the constant reporting on holiday sales, when stores will open on Thanksgiving, and how bad it is for retailers that Advent starts on Thanksgiving weekend this year. Of course, they don’t use the word “Advent” in these reports.

I’m happy to report that here in Rome, Christmas decorations aren’t up in the stores yet. No one seems in a hurry to start the holiday shopping season.

In fact, no one is in much of a hurry to do anything.

For instance, Courtney has been bemused by the fact that, no matter how long we’ve been sitting at a bar or a restaurant, our waiter will not bring us the check until we ask. Last night, we were at a popular wine bar, and we slowly finished our bottle as a dozen people waited for seats on the small patio. Evenso, we had to flag down our waiter to get the bill. He was in no hurry to clear us out. And, as far as I could tell, those waiting for seats weren’t in any hurry either.

Among the most beneficial aspects of travel is experiencing how other peoples see the world and understand life. Surely there are those in Italy who are wringing their hands at the Italian economy and plotting its recovery. But the people we’re meeting seem pretty good with the status quo. They’re comfortable. They live life at a pace that is sensible, even enjoyable.

Finally, this: A lot of our churches, like Italy, aren’t growing. That is, they are not getting numerically larger. That’s a cause for some hand-wringing on our side of the ocean as well. But maybe, just maybe, we can learn a little something from the Italians about life at a slower pace and about accepting the hand we’ve been dealt.

Travels

courtney perry

rome

Previous Post

November 15, 2013

What Is It about Rome?

Next Post

November 18, 2013 St. Francis: "I Know What the Fox Says"

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category bible blogging books christianity in america church church history dissertation divorce Dog Training education emergent church essay family funny glbt jopa productions ministry minnesota movies music parenting philosophy politics Prayer publishing Questions That Haunt random same sex marriage speaking spirituality Teaching technology television theology Travels Uncategorized writing youth ministry

Select a Month 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 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 June 2006 May 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 June 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 August 2004 February 2004 January 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen? Why do you make me look at injustice? This prophet questioned God's justice. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Job Jeremiah Asaph Habakkuk