Keep In Step With The Spirit

At various airports I’ve been to, there are conveyor belts in the long hallways between gates that do the walking for you, aka “moving walkways.” A person can just stand on the moving walkway, look at their phones, visit with a traveling companion and in a few minutes arrive at the other end of the hallway. The moving walkways are somewhat slow but can be a leg-saver for tired travelers. I’ve observed that most travelers avoid the moving walkways or walk on the walkway so they can get to where they are going quicker. Speed is the name of the game! Most of the world is a speedway. Terms like rat race, daily grind, hamster wheel, treadmill, and vicious circle are used to describe the speed of life. People who don’t keep up with others are referred to as “slow-pokes,” moving at a “snail’s pace,” and “slower than molasses.” Is speed really better? Is there an advantage to speed? Is it inferior to live life slowly? Living in the fast lane may appear to be the only option. To slow down is to get run over or, even worse, miss out! FOMO is a term you may not be aware of, but it is real. Fear Of Missing Out - FOMO is a common emotional reaction that people experience in the 21st century world of social media. If a person doesn’t live life at the speed that those in the lanes to the left are traveling, they’ll miss out. Jesus traveled at 3 miles an hour. 3 miles an hour is the speed the average person can walk, and Jesus walked most places. Sure, he took boats across the Sea of Galilee, but only from one side to the other. There are no navigable connecting waterways to the Sea of Galilee. There is a recorded “ride” he took on a donkey, but mostly, Jesus traveled at 3 miles an hour. The Apostle Paul instructed believers to “keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25 ESV) Have you ever thought about the speed the Holy Spirit walks? Is it possible to go through life faster than the Spirit? I know there have been times I’ve moved faster than the Spirit and times I’ve moved slower than the Spirit. Those instances always end in regret. “If only I had …” After over 40 years of seeking to “live by the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:25 ESV) I realize I’m prone to move faster than the Spirit wants, not slower. I want to “keep in step with the Spirit” but too often I run ahead. Holy Spirit, teach me to keep in step with you!