Soul Training
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Set aside an hour today to be a sloth (animals that move very slowly, sometimes taking ten minutes to climb a few feet). Move slowly. Take up to five minutes just to walk from the living room to the kitchen. Take a step and stop. Notice things. Breathe deeply. Be present to the present moment. Do everything at a deliberately slower speed.
Make a whole day a “slow day.” Get up a little earlier so you can have time to linger over breakfast. If you are at work, do your work with a slower, more rhythmic pace (assuming your profession allows this; if you need to act quickly, do so without “hurrying”). Cut out TV and all forms of media for the day. Take time to watch a sunset, take a leisurely walk, watch kids play in the park. Sometime later in the evening, sketch out your thoughts about what living a slowed-down life would look like.
“It seems that most believers23 have difficulty in realizing and facing up to the inexorable fact that God does not hurry in His development of our Christian life. He is working from and for eternity!” Miles J. Stanford
When you change speeds your internal system (your soul) will be thrown off of its usual pace and feelings of frustration will develop. For example, when you force yourself to drive in the slow lane, you’ll begin to feel your stomach churn a bit, and maybe you’ll grind your teeth. Your body will be saying, “C’mon, hurry up, step on it, let’s go,” as it has been trained to do. You will need to die to that inward need. Don’t worry—you can do this. It has not killed anyone so far.
Whether you are going through this material alone or with others, the following questions might be helpful as you reflect on your experience. Either way, it might be a good idea to answer these questions in your journal. If you are meeting with a group, bring your journal with you to help you remember your insights as you share your experiences.
1. Were you able to practice any of the exercises this week? If so, describe what you did and how you felt about it.
2. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercises?
3. Slowing down is countercultural. Describe the challenges you encountered. Will you keep trying to slow down in the future?