And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brothers to the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come here also. (Acts 17:6)
In my journal today I began considering the beauty of slow. For some odd reason the calendar I bought for this year has a theme of “sloths”. I was attracted to it. They say the sloth spends most of its time seeing the world upside down, so much so that even their fur grows in the wrong direction! Can you believe that?
Well…I feel I identify with the sloth in many ways. I too, see the world upside down. If the unbelievers were saying the Apostles were turning the world upside down, then it was already upside down and they were turning it right side up! I don’t fit this world, nor do I fit the modern church, but my journal today are some thoughts concerning the flow of slow. I hope you enjoy.
Journal > I love the flow of my simple days. So far growing old has been mostly enjoyable, the chance to slow down. The glow of slow. Would a sloth be considered lazy? They seem happy. They meet their own needs. They live like forty years! The jungle is their home and they don’t ask for hand-outs. They live in their design and are very content in that. I’ve never seen a sloth trying to be a dog, monkey, or anything other than who they are. No personality complex. A picture of focus , peace, and contentment.
I don’t want to be lazy, but I do want to live in spirit, not flesh. The flow of slow. I’m convinced God drives in the slow lane. Most people cannot afford to slow down or their debt will catch up with them. What is that old saying? In the jungle the slowest gazelle gets eaten, and a lion who can no longer run will starve. So every day the sun rises, you must be ready to run. But that’s the animal kingdom, not man. Made in the image of God, there are other ways, mostly made possible by spirit. Unfortunately, we who consider ourself the hunter, often end up the hunted, by our debts! Who’s hunting who? Don’t you dare slow down, or they will catch you.
The flesh will certainly have you living like an animal if you let it. When I think of the “slow flow” I think of a peaceful river rather than raging rapids. Jesus lived in the flow. He was a master of it. I never see him panic or rush. Even when Lazarus was dying he did not drop everything in a panic and run to save the day. He stayed in Spirit, the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus DID.
I don’t have to live like an animal, but so many do. When I see the hungry look in people’s eyes, what they lust for, I see the jungle. When I see the stress in their eyes and in their actions. When I hear the fight or flight in their words. When I see them popping pills to cope, it is the jungle. These people are trapped in man-made jungles, but God intended man to live in gardens. Yes, gardens. You remember Eden, right?
I’ve gone to Central Park in New York City three different times. It is so strange to see that patch of a garden in the midst of such a huge man-made jungle. That park is as a jewel set in ugly concrete. People flock to it to save their sanity and feed their soul. Man’s desire for beauty and peace is easily seen, even in a city of predators
In the jungle to capture something it must be hunted, pounced upon, chased; and only the strong and smart survive. New York City is full of such predators. They do not see the absurdity of the contrast. They pride themselves on being hungry, a hunter, a predator. They go to the park to prepare themself for another hunt. The measure of success is all that matters. In the documentary called “The Minimalist”, one of the two guys was disgusted with the fact he sold cell phones to children, in order to be successful. He had had an awakening, but many live in denial of what they do, what they have become.
But is “contentment” captured by way of a chase? Is contentment really that hard a thing to capture? Can it be captured in the pounce? Or is that why so few people have it? Is it captured only after the rat race has burned us out and wised us up? Is it caught or simply embraced? Like trying to grab something in water. Come at it too fast and it moves farther away, always just out of reach.
Hhmmm, I can see I want to write more on this. So I will end for now, with a picture of a turtle. My wife loves turtles, so much so I have given her the name of “Turtle Faith Lady”. We’re about to start some renovating of our small house. She has the theme of ocean and turtles as our main room, so I told her today that I get one room to have a theme of the sloth. We shall see what room that shall be? Possibly bathroom. But trees and shades of green will likely spring forth in some room of this house. LOL. More coming soon, this is Grandpa White Feather signing off.
Is there something about moving slow that tends to a long life? How old do jackrabbits live?
Path Without End 