Season’s Slowness

By Brad Henderson

In the hurriedness of his day, Carl Honoreʼ is so busy that he finds little time to spend with his twoyear- old son. Even bedtime stories are struggles between his desire to read the shortest books (so that he can return to other things: emails, workbrought- home, bills), and his sonʼs desire for the full, unabridged, gently-read versions of his favorite stories. When Honoreʼ runs across a newspaper add for “The One-Minute Bedtime Story” (think a cross between Mother Goose and executive summary), he thinks he has found the answer that will keep everyone happy:

“So at first glance, the One-Minute Bedtime series sounds almost too good to be true. Rattle off six or seven “stories, ” and still finish inside ten minutes--what could be better? Then, as I begin to wonder how quickly Amazon can ship me the full set, redemption comes in the shape of a counter-question: Have I gone completely insane? My whole life has turned into an exercise in hurry, in packing more and more into every hour. I am Scrooge with a stopwatch, obsessed with saving every last scrap of time, a minute here, a few seconds there. And I am not alone. Everyone around me--colleagues, friends, family--is caught in the same vortex. ”

This incident was the seed that sparked Honoreʼs book, “In Praise of Slowness, ” which I recommend highly to you. In short, it tells us what we already know, but donʼt want to know: speed has become an addiction in our society. It has become a questionable badge of honor that we are heading through our overflowing schedules (another addiction) at breakneck speed. And at this time of year, that is dangerous.

The season of Advent is an exciting time, a time of heart-felt, adrenaline-stoked anticipation. But this doesnʼt mean it has to be experienced with a rush, which is really not much of an experience anyway. Youʼve heard me bemoan every year those Christmas trees that are relegated to the curb on December 26, as though Christmas is over and we are in a hurry to reach the next holiday, or at the very least, return our homes to “normal” as soon as possible. But the front-end of Christmas, Advent, is a time to savor the joy, to tell the sacred stories over again, to sit at the table long after the meal is done so that we can immerse ourselves in each othersʼ company, to exhale and enjoy a normal breath before we once again submit ourselves to the frenetic pace of our culture.

So before it even begins, I ask you, nay, beg you: take Advent slow. Read the full, unabridged, and gently-read versions of the Story. Spend time... real time... with those you love. Hear the rush of angels wings, feel the awe of shepherds, and take the time to actually journey to Bethlehem, arriving with time to spare.

Worship

Sunday began the traditional season of Advent, the time of spiritual preparation before the birth of the Christ Child on Christmas. Even with the hectic weeks preceding it, this most sacred of Christian holidays is actually about a single moment in Bethlehem. This moment is marked by a baby’s cry that signals the meeting of heaven and earth, as well as the pivot point of human history. And in the midst of singing the old familiar songs, revisiting the ancient stories, and enjoying each others’ company, we will observe Advent with a worship theme, “Waiting for the Moment. ” The Scripture passages are those found in the Revised Common Lectionary and will be used by congregations across the globe.

•November 28, 10:15 a. m.- Matthew 24:36-44, the day and hour of Jesus’ return is unknown... are we ready?
•December 5, 10:15 a. m.- Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist prepares the way
•December 12, 10:15 a. m.- Matthew 11:2-11, John wonders about Jesus... is he the one?
•December 19, 10:15 a. m.- Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph accepts Jesus as his son
•December 24, 5:30

Incarnational

A Prayer for Stillness

Gracious God, I ask you to plant a seed of stillness in my soul. Everything in my life moves ever more quickly, and I am continually expected to fit more things into time that is already brimful with activity. Even when I have moments that require nothing of me, my mind races and I seem unable to locate a switch to turn it off. Give me, each day, the desire and capacity to breathe in the wonder of air, to envision a still lake on a windless dawn, to drop deep into the well of my own being and find there the peace of your presence. I ask this for the sake of your love. Amen. Copyright ©1999-2008 explorefaith.org