Going Nowhere Fast

Image: siraphat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 A lesson I have learned about time from using a GPS unit has spiritual as well as practical applications.

Someone once said that speed is the only truly modern sensation, and you don't have to look far to verify that statement.  The more modern a civilization, the faster we want to get places.  That's why we have made speed boats, high-speed trains, and supersonic jetliners.  Then, of course, let's not forget the automobile.

The first true automobile (a vehicle that could travel with passengers using its own power) was a steam-powered tricycle that traveled 2.25 miles (3.6 km) per hour.  Now we have modern production cars such as the Bugatti Veyron SS with a top speed of  267 mph (430 km/h).  Even the more recent emphasis on fuel economy has not deterred automakers from building electric race cars and hybrid supercars.  Even though we may not own such a speedy means of transportation, we often drive as though we do.  However, what do we actually accomplish when we go fast?  According to my experience with a GPS device, not much

The Illusion of Speed

For those of you unfamiliar with GPS (or Global Positioning System), GPS units receive signals from multiple satellites circling the planet then use some fancy math to determine the location and speed of the receiver.  A key element in automotive GPS units is the Arrival Time feature.  This feature uses information on the speed limits of the roads that you will travel to get from Point A to Point B, and gives a time when you will arrive at your final destination.  This time can be earlier or later depending on how fast or how slow you travel.  I discovered that in the only reliable way to make the arrival time earlier is to leave earlier, going faster makes little or no positive difference. 

Sure by going 10 or even 20 mph(km/h) faster you may gain a couple of minutes on your arrival time, but that gain quickly evaporates at the first red light, fuel stop, or encounter with law enforcement.  Aside from the potential criminal penalties, going faster burns more fuel and therefore increases the amount of money that literally goes up in flames (and you don't avoid that if you drive an all-electric car given this nation's penchant for using coal-burning power plants).  So by driving fast you feel as though you are accomplishing something, but that accomplishment is an illusion.  This principle translates well into the area of spirituality, but then the losses are much more serious.

Spiritual Speedsters

People, especially devout Christians, can be fooled into thinking that they need to make rapid spiritual progress in order to be a successful believer, but that couldn't be further from the truth.  The Bible often speaks about endurance and patience being positive traits.  The apostle John in the book of Revelation goes so far as to combine the two traits into the term "patient endurance"  In Jesus' parable of the sower, the seed that sprouted up quickly ends up dying off quickly representing believers who cannot endure persecution.


Rapid spiritual growth feels good.  We feel as though we are getting somewhere, that we are not being left behind.  However, like speeding in a car, it's an illusion.  This growth comes at a price.  We become unable to deal with unexpected troubles, and probably even more dangerous, we take the risk of becoming spiritually proud.  We tend to look down upon those who have not been growing so quickly, and we add condemnation to our superficial spirituality.  Our lives can quickly spiral out of control and if we come to our senses, it is only because we have hit rock bottom.

So do us all a favor and slow down.  Trust me, you will be glad that you did.


Have you had times that you paid the price for going too fast?  Tell us your story.