"Is Modern Life Moving Too Fast? The Importance of Lingering in a Fast-Paced World"
Many people feel burnt out, stretched to thin.
The culture of haste and productivity that many have either bought into are or required to participate in have help reduce us to a numb and aimless culture.
This of course is not the only cause but a symptom of our greater spiritual malaise.
In reading "The Scent of Time by Byung-Chul Han" Chapter 10 The Scent of Wood, Han continues his discussion of Heidegger's philosophy of time and life.
Han begins by acknowledging that Acceleration (Baudrillard - "..we have flown free of the referential sphere of the real and history.") of our modern age has moved us away from the real and natural. Modern advances aside from their benefits has removed distance and time allowing all things, all information to flow together. We live in a 24/7 world without points to stop and start.
Acceleration is not a primary cause of our mental apathy but one facet of it. One that we should nevertheless be aware of.
Time feels like it is moving ever faster and we can't seem to slow down.
Learn to Linger
The art of slowing down is a lost art for most of us.
We have been conditioned to move and work fast even within so called leasure time.
But we would all do well by intentionally learning to linger, to be off the clock, to find a time free of deadlines.
It won't be easy.
Heidegger uses a "jug" as an example of a place for contemplative lingering. A jug is a container that holds content and nothing leaks out or gets away. Heidegger goes on to say we must dwell or stay with things, we must linger. Without this staying or lingering we are adrift.
Adrift in the Ocean of Meaning
Adrift is but one description of people today. It has been equally described as a loss of meaning.
We seek meaning outside of the person that gives us meaning - God, we are adrift because WE cannot find meaning in ourselves or the many things of the world.
History demonstrates this through mankinds continual devolution into self-destruction.
Just look at the world news today! The idea that mankind is always improving is long dead.
Sin reigns supreme and without Christ we would completely self-destruct.
Reality is what we find at the end of all our excuses and delusions.
So practically we must get back into the habit of lingering and contemplating our lives, our sins and our repentance. Changing our sex, becoming successful, having power over others are among the many twisted attempts to deny God and His soverignity over us and all things.
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