This Week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

St. Martin's is currently teaching a Sunday School class on Christian nationalism. It's a topic that clearly hit upon a longing for information; almost 50 people came for the first week! We had to add chairs to our room setup. In the class, we have a road crew work sign. It is the one that workers carry to direct traffic. On one side, it says "stop." On the other, it reads "slow." We leave it up as a reminder of our group norms of mutual respect and no political ranting.

I thought about that sign today. When I used to work for my grandfather herding cows, there was a rule. Fast is slow, slow is fast. In short, if you push too hard, the cows will scatter, and you will have to take however long it takes to gather them all together once again. On the other hand, if you go nice and easy, slowly but deliberately, the work gets done sometimes in half the time. Slow is fast, fast is slow.

The work of the Kingdom of God is by nature slow work. It's one of breaking bread together, not eating fast food. It is one of listening, speaking, then listening again. Not shouting or the modern equivalent of sending an email IN CAPITAL LETTERS. It's one of caring for creation and watching things grow. Perhaps this is why Paul's letter to the Corinthians says, "Love is patient, love is kind." I am not sure where this letter is going this week, but perhaps the lesson I am learning as I write this (right before the deadline to print) is that scripture calls us, in a super-fast-paced world, to go slower with those we love. Hold the hug a second longer, linger over that last bite of food, sip that first cup of coffee. That little moment of slowness might be the moment that was needed for the Holy Spirit to slip in and bless that interaction. Sometimes, particularly when dealing with matters of faith, it can be true: fast is slow, slow is fast. Also, on a personal note, sometimes I wonder if my grandpa was teaching me about cows or life?

Peace,

Mitch