Three-Mile-an-Hour God

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

National history seen or taught as a succession of wars does a disservice to the people.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One, Three-Mile-an-Hour God,

That’s the title of a book of meditations by Kosuke Kayama. Our time-bound limitations make us impressed and obsessed with speed. Unlike us, you probably are not very impressed by speed. Of course you can move quickly, but for the really important things, slow and steady wins the race.

Koyama made the point that you’re more interested in depth of relationship, and that takes time. It takes moving along at a human pace; it takes a leisurely walk at that three-mile-an-hour rate.

I like the idea of being on a walk with you, and that’s often what it feels like when we take walks. You’re there to point out things to me and I can respond with interest, curiosity and delight. You bring up ideas for me to work with and suggestions for dealing with various situations in my life. My mind is free to relate at walking speed when I don’t have to concentrate on traffic around me.

I often wonder what’s the hurry, even when I’m in a car. Can we really “save time?” Trying to do so only shifts time’s opportunities, and if our speed eliminates time with you, we have lost our best opportunity. “Slow down, you move too fast,” not because we hope to make the moment last, but because the moment is full of your goodness and a slower pace enables us to enjoy it. At high speeds the moment is passed over and devalued, and with it you are devalued.

Three miles an hour seems just about right, as it was for the first followers of Jesus. That way they could absorb more of what he had to teach and of who he was. I’ll keep walking, too.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I hate to break it to you, Thaddeus, but you won’t be able to try that unicorn horn aphrodisiac in your lifetime.”

[Neither would He, but He didn’t say it.]