Slow-Moving Moments

Living in Kairos Time - Pt. 1

I am a “future-oriented- fast-paced - move on” type of guy. What does that mean? It means that I don’t take a lot of time processing things, make quick decisions, and then “move on.” Plus, I am always looking toward what is next. Lately, however, the Lord has shown me that my personality type has caused me to miss some blessings and has hindered my ability to bless others. I have discovered that God is calling me - and I think everyone to what I call “Slow-Moving Moments.” In the Gospels, Jesus was never shown as being in a hurry. Resolute, focused, and determined - yes! But we never get the sense that he was hurried.

The photo accompanying this article was taken in a park in Nimes, France, where my wife and I were vacationing — a group of old French men were sitting, “passing the time of day,” just talking. We might expect that from old guys. Yet, look at the two men on both sides of the group - younger guys who are attentive to the older ones. This group of men were living what the Greek language identifies as “kairos” time. The Greek language (the language of the New Testament) used two words for time - kairos and chronos. We are very familiar with chronos time. It is the root of the word chronology - time measured by minutes, days, weeks, and years. We use our watches and calendars to measure chronos time. We discuss what is on our calendars and complain about how long we must wait. But we rarely talk about karios time - or even have a word for it. When we mention “time,” we almost always refer to chronos time.

Chronos time is quantitative. How long? How many hours? How many days? Kairos time is qualitative. It measures the depth of conversations, the sweetness of relationships, the impact of listening, and the patience of waiting.

In most of our lives, kairos is pushed out because we are in such a hurry. In her book The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure from Fast Faith, Alicia Britt Chole says:

“Ours is a hurried age in which speed is deified and waiting is demonized. Ours is cluttered age in which noise is the norm an images constantly clamor for our attention. And in our hurried, cluttered age, faster has become synonymous with better…”

Are you in hurry mode most of the time - even when you don’t have to be? Most people don’t realize how hurried they are. So, here is a little “hurry test.” Be honest with yourself as you answer these seven questions.

1. ​​When you choose a checkout line, do you look at where you would have been had you selected another line?

2. Do you become irritated when stuck in traffic or if the car in front of you doesn’t move as quickly as you think they should when the light turns green?

3. Do you become frustrated when people don’t respond to your texts, emails, or voicemails as quickly as you think they should?

4. Do you get upset because the microwave (or Internet) is too slow?

5. Do you get frustrated if someone talks too slowly or takes too long to tell you something?

6. Do you often feel in a hurry to complete tasks - even if they do not have a due date?

7. Has your spouse, friend, or colleague told you to slow down or take it easy?

How did you do? If you were like most people, you answered “yes” to at least five of the questions. We live in a fast-paced society, and the message is “faster is better.” But faster hinders kairos time. It does not allow us to push away distractions, attend to “the now,” and stop focusing on “what’s next.”

It is hard to plan karios time. It mostly just happens. But if we practice “slow-moving moments,” it allows chronos time the opportunity to incubate kairos time - time that shapes our soul and the souls of others.

There are five essential areas in which most of us need to develop “slow-moving moments.” Over the next five weeks, we will be looking at how to:

1. Slow down to ATTEND

2. Slow down to LISTEN

3. Slow down to RESPOND

4. Slow down to ENJOY

5. Slow down to REFLECT

Here is a short prayer worth praying each day to get us started.

Glorius and gracioius God;
Help me this day to live 
In "slow-moving moments."
Help me to slow down,
That I might be aware
Of your presence
And the presence
Of those you bring my way.