The Nine S': Slowness

Slowness

Why do we shy from slowness?  Why do we despise slowness?  Youth and many adults want to speed in tricycles, bikes, motorcycles, cars, trucks, boats, skis, airplanes.  We anger if the restaurant is slow with our food. We do not want to wait in lines.  We want fast-action movies and quick relationships.

We want internet connections faster and fastest, not just fast.  We don't want to read a "slow" book, and many don't want to read at all. We spend much time not wanting to wait for much of anything: to grow taller, grow up, go to school, get out of school, get a job, get out of work, go on vacation, leave Mass early to avoid the parking lot rush.

There seems an obsession with wanting all to come quickly: fast, faster, fastest. Yet consider creation, God's realm of perfection, even though we often consider it our world, our life.  How long did it take for the earth to form and develop to this current moment? 

How long did it take for man to discover fire, or Edison to discover electric light. How long did the Israelites wait for the promised Messiah--and then many choosing to wait even longer, not believing Jesus Christ is the Messiah?

How long does it take for a seed to germinate and the plant to grow, the flower to bloom, the tree to produce fruit, such as the oak with its acorn?  How long does it take for a rock to be worn down by water, or a cloud to accumulate enough molecules of water to be seen as a cloud, and then to rain?
How long does it take for a very fine wine to ferment and age?  For a musician to become a virtuoso?


Slowness is essential in the spiritual life as a means of quality.  We may wonder why it is the third S, following silence and solitude. Well, we cannot practice silence and embrace solitude without the aspect of slowness, for we must slow our bodies in order to experience our minds, and slow our minds in order to sense our souls.  Slowness is essential for truly embracing silence and solitude, for slowness allows for gentle unfolding and growth. 

In order to know Christ in the present moment, we must be slowed down in our moments so as to ponder Him, sense Him, experience His presence.  Do we pray slowly? Do we think about Jesus in the Eucharist slowly, or consume the Host slowly, sip His Precious Blood slowly?  Or are our minds rushing in thoughts?  

To practice slowness in our every day lives, in the present moments, first we must appreciate the value of slowness. Now consider the beauty of God's creation as well as many conveniences through creative graces He's given mankind.  


Quality comes in slowness.  Especially in the spiritual life, the development of a fine soul, the growth is slow.  God works slowly because we desire and think and talk and move too quickly.  The spiritual life cannot be rushed. God is not rushed.

Slowness enhances silence and solitude. Practice slowly brushing the teeth. Slowly eat, silently and in solitude sometimes, if possible. Of course it it possible!  In a large family, there could be planned opportunity to do something slowly, silently, in solitude.  Within the mind, imagine something slowly.

Drive slowly, walk slowly, play slowly, read slowly, think slowly, breathe slowly, touch slowly, smile and weep slowly.  Go to sleep slowly. Do not rush. 


Practice slowness in as many present moments in as many ways possible.  Slowness is possible, and the results will reap benefits.  Watch the moments pass slowly.  Listen and look slowly. Talk slowly. Smell and taste slowly. Sip, swallow slowly.

Either do the outer first, or if comprehending, enter the interior first and practice slowness.  Ponder God slowly. Consider the virtues slowly.  Pray silently slowly, meditate slowly. Love God slowly.  He will slowly come gather the heart into His, all very slowly, so slowly that we do not consciously know.  But if we begin to know, enjoy the peace slowly.  Enjoy slowly. Love slowly. Rejoice and praise slowly.


Some may call this learning watchfulness and attentiveness.  St. Hesychios the Priest wrote much about these.  By slowing the body, mind, heart and soul, we watch and become aware.  We begin to notice our vices and sins, and then we notice the first thoughts that engender vices.  Slowness helps us gently but readily stop the first thoughts of vices before they become enacted sin.  We watch and become aware of Christ, of His truth, beauty and goodness.  

We learn that slowness assists in all the virtues.  Slowness smooths humility, eases it throughout our beings. Slowness enriches love, causing it to grow and last. Think of any virtue, and consider how slowness creates a spiritual luminosity and beauty to each, for beauty is slow.  Truth and goodness are slow.  Slowness allows the body, mind, heart and soul to savor all aspects of life, the temporal, the spiritual, the eternal.  Slowness takes us to the Heart of Christ.  


For those who doubt the truth, beauty and goodness of slowness, try practicing slowness for three or thirty present moments.  Pray for the grace of slowness, and be mindful and attentive to the nuances of slow as well as the power and presence of slow.  

If anyone tries to convince that the spiritual life can be hastened by enforced exercises of piety and devotions, of external dress and food regimens, of austere bodily practices, instead slowly consider the practice of slowness. 

There is no fast track to holiness.  Jesus spent 30 years slowly living, learning, loving, preparing for His mission of mankind's eternal salvation.  So gently, thoughtfully, slowly, savor life in the present moment, for Christ is in each of them.  We will not want to rush past.