The phrase that captured my attention

Festina lente

Have you ever come across a phrase that seems to crystallise an abstract swirl living in your mind? A few weeks ago, I came across the phrase ‘festina lente’ in an article by Christopher Perrin that Tsh Oxenreider shared. It is an ancient concept, originally in Greek then translated to Latin, that has taken on many forms over the centuries. The translation is ‘make haste slowly’.

The paradox of this concept appeals to me because I frequently feel like an embodied contradiction. I am an introverted leader, conflict-averse with a fierce drive to combat injustice, and drawn to quiet, slow living with a deep need to be productive and goal-oriented. Over the years, I have become more comfortable sitting in the tension of opposing forces. I have experienced the strength that can come from gleaning the benefits of both sides. This idea of ‘festina lente’ summarises a paradoxical way of living that I am stepping towards.

Many others have explored this topic in more depth and with more understanding than I have so I won’t attempt to be an expert in this moment. I simply share what it means to me right now. ‘Make haste slowly’ acknowledges that hustling and working harder does not always bring the progress and life you were striving for. Instead, we need to do smaller steps well and in the proper order. The build-up of those small steps or habits, along with consistency and space, carries us further. The pace is slow and measured. It was on this idea that the Roman army based their training and strategy, with preparation and constant practice at its core. It is also the basis of the tortoise and the hare story- slow and steady wins the race.

If you have been around my musings for any length of time, you likely see why this phrase captured my attention. My soul craves a slow rhythm of life. I still work hard but I try to be more intentional about where that effort is going so it actually makes a difference in my momentum. I focus more on the small, everyday decisions that add up rather than the large bursts that seldom have the long-term impact I was hoping for.  I give myself permission to rest and slow down. At least, I do more often than I used to- a work in progress.

This phrase has become a motto I recall in moments of frustration when I want to see quicker results or have a project completed immediately. It walks alongside the practices and Scriptures that have called me to a slowed-down spirituality as a foundation for how I live. No doubt this will continue to be challenged and drowned out by the noise around me and the choices I make but it is there to return to when I pause and remember.

Festina lente