Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,

   but those who are slow to anger calm contention

Proverbs 15:18 (NRSV)

Gaming Mileage

You may already know this, but one of the way to improve the efficiency of a gas engine of any sort is to drive it more slowly. You get better mileage at 70 than you do at 80. You get even better mileage at 65, if you can stand to go that slow.

I can! In fact, I’ve been doing this up and down 495 for some time now. I probably should have mentioned it sooner. The practice has many added benefits. I’ve also discovered some surprises.

The Slow Lane is less Stressful

When I’m in the right-most lane, I don’t feel the urgency I feel when I’m passing. I basically give up on being first, give up on rushing, give up on hurry. When I get behind someone really slow (say, poking along near 50…not as uncommon as you might think on 495) I wait for a gap and pass. But I don’t stress about it. I’ll get around them when I can.

Because I’m not in that “racing mindset,” I find I’m leaving earlier for appointments and meetings. This has the additional side-effect of improving my timing while it’s lowering my concern. Finally, when I’m passing another State Police Car, I get to smile and wave: a car moving up 495 at 65 miles an hour is very uninteresting, and I don’t have to slam on the brakes like all the cars around me wind up doing.

Other Efficiencies

When I started this, i thought I’d be late for everything. I’m not. I don’t arrive much later than I would if I was going faster. You have to drive a long time to get the added benefit from all that speed, and my average drive time is always under thirty minutes. I do just fine.

Also, the aforementioned gas savings are feeling very welcome right about now. As prices at the pump soar, I’m happy to be visiting them less than ever.

With all this lowered stress, I find I’m not as quick to anger. As Proverbs note, we’ve got a duty to be more like God when God is in the peaceful lane: slow to anger! Sometimes, when there are a lot of cars merging, I even get to practice my more merciful side, leaving space for cars that will soon zip away, chasing stress in the faster lanes.

Summer Reading List: Embracing the Slow Life

Each week in worship for July and August, I’ll share an inspiring book that includes wisdom about slowing down. Some will be from traditional sources, and some will be new. Some will be Christian authors, some will be of other faiths…or no faith at all. I believe we can find great wisdom when we’re taking our time and being open to the possibilities.

So if the rest of the year has been stressful or frustrating, come into the slow lane with me and see what we find. I used to complain about how quiet things got in the summer. Now I know I’ll get better mileage if I enjoy the breath and take my rest with everybody else. I hope you’ll consider the same.