We live in the age of overload. We struggle with do lists that are too long, and weekends that are too short. We feel bombarded with information and media stimulation. In this fast-moving world, we sometimes feel disconnected spiritually. We long for a slower, less complicated life, which we think would give us more time and space to seek God. “If only I had more time. If only life were simpler, less frantic – then my spiritual life would be more meaningful.” But would it really? Is our pace of life the enemy?
Equating spirituality with quietness, slowness, and simplicity is a dangerous myth. God can be found in the bustling city, as well as in a country retreat. Our lives will never be slow, quiet, or simple enough. Those qualities are always just over the horizon. Meanwhile, we have a life to live — in the “real” (i.e., overloaded) world.
Conventional wisdom states: “The pace of life is too fast. This is not good for our souls.” But people have been saying that for several hundred years. Remember Walden? Henry David Thoreau wrote a book about his experience of building a cabin at Walden pond, leaving the hustle and bustle of his overloaded world to create a simpler life. That was 150 years ago! That was before trains, automobiles, planes, phones, computers! What would he say now? What would he say if he lived 50 years from now?
Forget going back to Walden. The challenge for Christians in our generation will be to learn to live a meaningful spiritual life in the midst of the stress of information and schedule overload. God is just as real, and his grace is just as available in the world of jet-lag, the Internet, and email as He was in the days of horses and chariots. Do we believe this?
There’s something more at stake here. Not only is it possible for people to live the spiritual life in our age of overload, it is paramount. A well-ordered Christian life is not just attainable during these hectic times, it may well prove to be the only way to help people cope with the stresses and challenges of life in an age of overload. By setting up Christianity in opposition to busyness and a fast pace of life, we give ourselves an excuse for not living it with more fullness. “I’m just too busy to serve God, and develop spiritual habits that I’d like to have.” Maybe worse, we make the Christian life seem distant and unattainable to our spiritually hungry friends and co-workers.
I fervently believe that the way to deal with the busy pace of life is not to escape it, but to meet God there. Forget about trying to escape the stress of the modern world. Forget about waiting until things “settle down” before you seek after the things of God. Things are never going to settle down! The time to seek God and grow spiritually is now.