The word 'Slow' written in capital letters on a road. Photo: By Morgane le Breton on Unsplash.
Slow but sure: George A Macpherson on the value of a recharge
‘Slowing down can help us become stronger and more creative.’
One of the pleasures of my electric car is that slowing down charges the battery, so I can go even further. Going slower also means I don’t have to suddenly hit the brakes for traffic lights, which can cause stress all round. I find that Meeting for Worship has the same slow, recharging effect. The unique quiet in which Friends let their minds hover allows the tiniest reminders, inspirations, memories to grow.
More generally, slowing down can help us become stronger and more creative in a world where words and ideas now flow faster than a flash. But even in Meetings, some Friends I speak to find it difficult to stop their personal drive to be active. It’s easy to get stuck in the swirl of Local Meeting admin. Sometimes I find that in the new online Meetings, where I can Meet with Friends from all over the world, I get used to complete strangers and enjoy their company and behaviour without these concerns. Surely this new technology can augment what George Fox said about finding an alternative and clearer way of following the teachings of Jesus.
I recall one woman, joining from her sitting room, whose cat took a place between her and the computer camera, to enjoy its thorough self grooming. At the same Meeting there was a delightful young child who kept appearing to his mother before resuming play beyond view. Another young woman disappeared a couple of times, very discreetly. We all had our microphones off unless we wanted to speak into Meeting.
‘The unique quiet in which Friends let their minds hover allows the tiniest reminders, inspirations, memories to grow.’
There was one elderly Friend who sat still and calm from the moment she joined the Meeting. She didn’t move, speak or look around. Just seeing her was calming, and it contributed to this new kind of Meeting, now spreading over hundreds of miles. She joined after-Meeting chat happily.
That Meeting, and others like it, including those at which I recognise the other worshippers, give us the joy and comfort of people returning home.
But do you agree that we need to prepare mentally for worship? A Meeting doesn’t start when we’re all together, but when we begin to take our foot off the accelerator of the week’s activities so that we can contribute to the exciting silence. We do have to slow down, but it’s easier said than done.
Next week I would like to share some thoughts on methods that, for me, seem to aid this slowing down. I hope you’ll join me then.
Comments
A good article. Thank you.
By James Mc on 16th February 2026 - 14:37
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