I was reminded of a few things on Sunday
1) One of my favourite songs - Slow Down
2) One of the most inspiration passages - the road to Emmaus
3) Learning to swim and cycle
My kids made a breakthrough in their swimming skills a couple of days ago. And I reminisce the times they learnt to cycle, learnt to read, learnt to play instruments, learnt to scoot, learnt to handle animals, and most notably learnt to ride a horse.
Sadly, sometimes as you watch social media. You are overawed by how fast other kids are going. My kid swims at three miles an hour, other kids are going at 3x that pace. Some friends mentioned how a pair of air Jordans can help you jump maybe 10% higher. But higher nonetheless. And AI has generated Studio Ghibli animations faster in a day than the original artist could do in a month.
That famous artist has shown disdain for the lack of artistry and depth in AI generated art. Some would position it as jealousy, and others an appreciation of art. He also said that he felt that we might be nearing the end of days.
Are we? Are we hurtling towards the end in double quick time, spurred by our pursuits? Is Jesus truly preaching a different message to constantly reflect on what we are doing and slow down? Should our kids swim faster, learn more as part of the process?
These are deeply confounding and fumbling thoughts that tumble and toss in my mind. It feels tempting either way to chase those different ideologies, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. But it seems ultimately we must indeed choose because as time ticks on, time waits for no man.
I'm trying to do many things myself. Sometimes I justify it by chasing other things that others are chasing. Saying it's a higher purpose or trying to do the right thing. But the speed at which I run at, sometimes, cannot be denied, that it is fast and it leaves some people behind. But at times, there is also rest, and you feel left behind instead. There is also thinking that everyone has their own natural rhythm they cannot deny, even if this rhythm is similarly pressured to quicken or slow down.
I feel these most strongly with my kids. At times when they push ahead. We find joy. But when they're behind we find stress. Yet, the promise of the bible is that being behind sometimes grants them closer proximity to journey with God.
How did I grow up and have to contend with such a divisive choice of path in my life, and even now as a parent?
At the end of the day. I admit I might be wrong. I admit I have done a great misdeed to my children. And a great suffering and torment of regret if I have messed up their lives.
I really don't know. What if I am truly wrong.
When they are left in people's dust.... Coughing, choking. When they are left behind... What then. Or if you're ahead and lost your souls.
Can you still be happy? Please?
May God still find you good.
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