There's something important about … SLOW...

I was interested by a news piece on Yahoo this morning where Stephen Hawking (well known physicist) warned that the increasing development of artificial intelligence could lead to it becoming "smarter than us" and pose a threat to the existence of the human race. 

Whether you think that is possible or not it was the final sentence that gave me pause for thought: "Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete, and would be superseded."

Limited by slow biological evolution? I can't help thinking that "slow evolution" is the opposite of limiting. There's something about a slow unfolding that allows for enjoyment, wonder, relishing, cherishing, integrating…

Something that evolves slowly reveals the intricacy, the wisdom, the breath-taking design as a seed becomes a flower or an acorn becomes a towering oak tree.

Growing slowly allows for delight in every stage as a baby crawls, toddles, walks, runs... It allows for exploring, learning and refining skills and choices from childhood to adulthood. It allows time to adjust to the transition from productive working life to a more gentle pace in retirement. There's something important about SLOW…

On my walk this morning I noticed some Pohutukawa flowers just beginning to poke through the tight little cluster of buds. I don't want them to be all fully flowering tomorrow and gone the next day!

This holiday season we are being encouraged to drive more slowly. Sure we want to avoid a ticket or a fine - or more importantly - an accident! But perhaps going more slowly will allow more time to notice the beauty as spring turns into summer. It might of course allow us to notice how often we get impatient and want to get to the next destination "now if not sooner"! There are many layers of wisdom revealed in going more slowly.

Meditation is well documented to slow the heart rate, drop blood pressure, bring a sense of calm and bring more coherent  brain wave patterns. For those of us who meditate as a way of connecting to the creative Wisdom we call God these are lovely side benefits!

There's something important about SLOW...