Reflections on Ignorance-Slow Walk, Fast Talk

    I have always been a fast walker. Even in my youth I wanted to run everywhere, be in various places, and see new things. I haven't slowed down much since then, but I have tried to slow down more recently. I am not sure what prompted this thought in the past couple of years, but I finally realized just how quickly I walk. I get frustrated when others are slowly walking in front of me. I also experience this when I walk up stairs. Many opportunities to exercise patience in the halls of St. Mary's I suppose. One day, I forget when exactly, I started to reflect on why I walk so quickly. Where do I have to be that makes my pace of walking so rushed? 

    I am in such a rush to be everywhere that I forget this life is a marathon and not a sprint. Our lives of course are a race in a certain sense (1 Cor 9:24),  but it is not a race that needs to be carried out in such a worried manner. When our lives are characterized by a lack of peace and an accompanying sense of worry then our pace in walking reflects that. At least that is what I can see in my own life. I am so unconsciously worried about deadlines, assignments, applications, etc that I end up mimicking this mindset in my body. 

    I think a healthier alternative is to live our lives out of a sense of peace and trust. I imagine this is found in trust in the providence of a loving Father. If a loving Father has His hand in all of our activities, what do  we have to fear? There are specific instances that call for a sense of urgency and hurry, but what is one to make of the everyday activities in light of this new perspective? I still struggle with this. If I can be faithful to what is being asked of me in the present moment, then why would I worry about the countless other things that need to happen in the future. One must relinquish control over the future, for in our weak, mortal condition we have little to no say over what will happen in the future. Our duty is to attend to the present. 

    For me, a slower walking pace would help me become more conscious of this surrender. I don't have to stumble over myself in a hurried effort to get everywhere. Instead, I can try to walk at a normal pace and maybe pay attention to my surroundings. This becomes even more obvious when you are walking with someone else. In my experience, slow, leisurely walks are much better at making space for genuine conversation with another person. A sort of sprint-walking is not so suited for such conversation. I hope to continue learning how to slow down.