Time to Think

Proverbs 29:20 ESV

“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

Sun beating down and climbing on to the blessing a friend had given me to be the new steward of. As the mower came to life, the choice was quickly before me, put an ear bud in or not. I had fallen behind on the podcasts and another friend had sent me a link to another one he was sure was up my alley. Even as I hear that “there is never anything good on” I have found that to be a very false statement. There seems to always be another podcast I haven’t listened to, a YouTube channel I haven’t seen, a clip of a sports event I remember from when I was a kid, nothing like watching Bo Jackson run up a wall, or Christian Okoye run over a defender again. The commentators on world events are plethora and seem to go on and on, with another hour program each day. “Nothing good on”, really? That is not including the Disc Golf Tournaments I haven’t watched, the old movies I want to watch again, or the comedians that I want to encourage as they try to keep it clean.

Do I put the earbuds in and listen to another good program edifying me and encouraging me in my faith? A Christian brother from states away doing what he can, hoping his download count goes up. More and more I find that the Preacher was right “of many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12) The Wealth of Nations sits on my bookshelf hoping ambition will strike me. The quantity of books worth reading is growing. The quantity of quality translations of old books in modern English, worth reading, is ballooning at the rate of PhDs who need projects. Good projects worthy of the church to translate and preserve for us. The time is there, I could even listen to them while I mow my lawn instead of one of those podcasts I need to catch up on! I could even have the bible read to me. All that is needed is to slip it in my ear, they even act as ear protection from the dangers of the low drone of the mower.

Why the hesitation? Why not put my mouth under the tap and enjoy the joys of constant flow of biblical teaching? James tells us in his first chapter that we should be “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). That is not saying we are to constantly be listening to others but rather wisdom for us to make sure we understand what has been said before we respond to it. How much time do I give to understanding what has been said, understanding the intent of the speaker, and formulating a thoughtful response? Too often we behave as parliament rather than what was once the senate (“the greatest deliberative body”). It takes time and focus to digest and formulate a good response.

Jerry Root, a professor at Wheaton, advised drives of two hours alone with the music off to get to the issue. He was speaking specifically about emotional issues, but the advice holds for processing much more than emotional baggage. The same idea holds for the back of a motorcycle, as the wind whips through your ear, and the sound of the motorcycle drowns out other things, you are left with your thoughts. (Also, why I get annoyed at motorcycles with radios.) As more and more outlets clamor for your eyes and ears, the Christian must steward his mind all the more closely. Not only about what is allowed in, not only about how much, but also that thought is given to understand it. For all I am annoyed by constantly seeing earbuds in ears, the danger is not in them, it is us. Will we take time to understand or not? The same holds true of books, TV, and even preachers, it is wearisome to the flesh if we don’t take the time to understand, to contemplate. So, let the drown of the mower roar in your ears, the sound of the wind whistle by your window, let the sound of silence have its day as your thoughts take shape that you might act and speak with wisdom and understanding.

Coram Deo