UN

I visited a Year 4 class at the school where I am a Governor and sat through a brilliant literacy lesson - that's an English lesson for people my age! The teacher was dynamic, the kids were engaged and the learning was significant. After 75 minutes the teacher and children fell exhausted into the playground for a break having experienced a fast-paced, quick-fire, no-time-to-breathe, cram-in-as-much-as-you can experience. (That's due to the pressure on teachers and their children to learn rather than from the teacher). It was great but I came away wondering if all we are doing is teaching our children how to run faster just to keep up and if there is ever a time when we teach them that slowing down is actually good for then as well.

The danger for our children, in fact for all of us, is that we feel that everything has to be done quickly otherwise we might miss the next thing that is coming along.

I was watching the football on Sunday - what a game between Chelsea and Manchester United, fast-paced, ever-changing - and noticed the advertising around the pitch. The advertisers were promoting, faster, smaller, more powerful - a new computer, not a person - and it got me thinking, would any advertiser ever advertise, slower, bigger, weaker?

In looking at the life of Jesus, he was unhurried and uncluttered, he never seemed in a rush, he advocated letting go rather than holding on, he said the first would be last, he seemed to stop and spend time with those on the edges of society rather than rushing by. In fact he 'made himself nothing' and he 'humbled himself' (Philippians 2:7-8).

I wonder if we will ever learn how to slow down, to pause, to stop chasing after the wind and instead find the stillness where we can know God again?

Is it time to change hurry for unhurried, clutter for uncluttered? Of course there was another UN that characterises Jesus - uncompromising. He knew what was most important in his life and his mission, his connection to the Father. That takes time and should never be compromised. After all it is the only way to discover life.