Downshifting to Slow Church

When I was a young driver, my fiancé took on the daunting task of teaching me to drive a standard transmission in the Volkswagen I had just purchased.  Most of it was learning to trust the rhythm found in changing between the gas and clutch and moving the gearshift appropriately.  All seemed well as I settled into an easy comfort of moving from first gear to second, then third and at times going full speed in fourth.  That is until I encountered stoplights or hills.  It was at this point that I learned about downshifting.  Approaching a stoplight brought a need to slow down in order to arrive at the signal at an appropriate pace where I would either stop and wait for the green light to go ahead, or make a direction change by turning right or left.  On hills, I was able to downshift so that the car’s breaking system didn’t take too much of the load.  Once on level ground I would begin moving ahead as before. 

Recently, I’ve learned how this concept of downshifting applies to other areas of life as well.  In fact, it’s a reference to a cultural movement that has some interesting parallels.  To be more specific, when one becomes intentional about downshifting in life, there is a conscious decision made to slow down and invest more time and energy in food, family, and the place one lives.  It’s about paying attention to what gear we are operating in and the speed at which we are traveling through life.  When one downshifts, one strives to restore balance at work and play, as well as in the spiritual, physical and social realms of life.  (http://www.slowmovement.com/downshifting.php)

Given our exhaustion levels this may sound appealing, but it is no easy task, as everything in life seems to scream at us to do more, be more, buy more, and go more.  Despite the fact that we yearn for something different, we repeatedly find ourselves screeching up to the stoplight at the end of the day, falling into bed exhausted from the day’s pace.  No wonder we feel so conflicted.  We aren’t living the lives we really want, yet can’t seem to find a way to slow the car down. 

There are a few folks who are shining light on the path, however and helping us learn how to slow down in ways that allow us to reconnect with what matters most. In fact, the principles and practices of slow living are finding expression through many avenues such as food, travel, city identities, money, even church.  While not much press has been given to it, Slow Church is undoubtedly a movement whose time has come and one that many are curious about.   Yet, describing Slow Church is difficult because it is so experiential.  What it offers is a different way of gathering as God’s people, one that makes time to enjoy the gifts of life such as community, food, the environment and conversation, usually unfolding in organic ways.  Woven into this way of being are song, readings, prayer, and new expressions of liturgy. 

I’ve been lucky enough to connect with several different kinds of Slow Church communities springing up in my city where I find a welcome and inclusion.   I’ll bet if you begin looking for them, you will find them coming to life where you are as well.     Not all label themselves in these ways, but they are an interesting segment of this new missional church identity that is arising among us.  I hope to blog from time to time with stories of what is going on in these communities and hope you’ll have stories to share as well.  Life holds many hills and stoplights.  Maybe we all could use some practice at downshifting as we maneuver through our days on this planet.