"Festina Lente", A Gentle Introduction to a Paradoxical Speedometer
A New Speed of Life Lens
The Latin phrase ‘Festina Lente’ meaning “hasten slowly” may be unfamiliar, but is an invaluable metric for the tempo we set for ourselves, most especially, in the breakneck pace of modern life. (Sincere thanks, Ben Palpant for your introduction in Letters from the Mountain & for the translation of “patient urgency”).
Now to attempt to explain the concept, quotes from a Roman & a Dutchman:
Cicero said, “To live long, it is necessary to live slowly.”
Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466- 1536) describes Festina Lente “Make haste slowly.” this way: “This charming proverb appears at first glance a riddle, because it is made up of words which contradict each other...If you weigh carefully the force & the sentiment of our proverb, its succinct brevity, how fertile it is, how serious, how beneficial, how applicable to every activity of life, you will easily come to the opinion that among the huge number of sayings you will find none of greater dignity. Speude bradeos (Festina Lente) ought to be carved on columns. It ought to be written on the archways of churches, & indeed in letters of gold. It ought to be painted on the gates of great men’s palaces, engraved on the rings of cardinals and primates, & chased on the scepters of kings. To go further, it ought to be seen on all monuments everywhere, published abroad & multiplied so that everyone will know it & it will be before every mortal eye, & there will be no one who doesn’t hold it of greatest use—especially princes, & to those to whom, to quote Homer: Laoi t’ epitetraphatai kai tossa memele [“The people are entrusted, & the care of much.”]”
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“Go placidly amid the noise & haste, & remember what peace there may be in silence…” ‘Desiderata-Words for Life’ by Max Ehrmann
For an artist, too much ‘festina’ (hastening) in painting makes low quality work but conversely too much ‘lente” (slowness) may mean the work is never finished. It is a paradoxical pacing of living & creating.
A New Aspect for Familiar, Ancient Stories
Using Festina Lente as a filter when exploring Scripture, once you understand this pattern, you will find this treasure of a speedometer throughout the Old & New Testaments & be able to apply it & take appropriate action in your daily life, that is, to “Hear & Do” the Word of God.
“The sun also rises,& the sun goes down, & hastens to the place where it arose.” Ecclesiastes 1:5 NKJV
“waiting for & hastening the coming of the day of God…” 2 Peter 3:12 ESV
“My dearest brothers & sisters, take this to heart: Be quick to listen, but slow to speak. & be slow to become angry…” James (Jacob) 1:19 TPT
Let’s explore this in more depth together in future! Hope this has piqued your curiosity & sparked both pause & purpose.