Hiya! Loved your reflections on the hastiness of urban life and share the same sentiment. I have often reflected on this spell many times in Chicago and continue to do so. This helps me stay still before the Lord. I would consider myself a slow walker, even by rural standards, it's like almost at an elderly pace. When I catch myself at the brisk pace of an urbanite, I am doing so either because I am late or so as to not irritate those behind me.
Having lived in London for the past year, and I can tell you that it's the same here as it is in Chicago, if not much worse. Tube trains are normally once every five minutes during peak hours. Everyone rushes to get off/on the tube/trains only to wind up at the less than optimal urban pace when ascending or descending a flight of stairs or escalators out to the street or into the station; when waiting to scan the card to walk through the barriers between the stairs and the streets; and when entering interchanges which have people coming from all different directions. Same thing would happen in Chicago! It is so funny to watch this happen!
It’s been a while, Conner -- never would’ve guessed you made it across the ocean blue to London. From what I remember, I’d venture to say your not a big-city guy, so I imagine it wasn’t a move you made for the sake of the urban scene. Was it for work?
I could’ve guessed this was a widespread issue in most big cities around the world, but having never been to most of them, I have no authority to say so. In that vein, I’m somewhat pleased to hear you affirm that this phenomenon takes place over there as well, not because I think it’s a good thing (obviously) but because it gives me greater assurance that this is truly a human thing rather than just a Chicago thing or American thing. It’s our degenerative tendency (made worse in our concentrated urban habitats) to love the things that are not lovely and reject those that truly are. Silence, solitude, and stillness are not palatable to a fallen species.
Thanks for the comment. Good to hear your thoughts and know my reflections are of benefit to you in the meaningful things of life. Also, your “elderly pace” made me laugh, and it made me very, very happy. I also totally understand the moving fast to not irritate others. It’s part of that inertia that makes it so hard for me to slow down!
Yeah I still am not a city person and London has reaffirmed that. But it is where the people are and they need to know Jesus!
I did indeed move here for work. I came over on a two year religious worker visa to do ministry. I'm also in the process of getting an MTh over here. So I have a little over one-year left.
It is hard to live and think the way God tells us to in Holy Scripture. Satan is always trying to drag us back into chaos. But God and his garce in Jesus will gradually lift us up and out.
Hiya! Loved your reflections on the hastiness of urban life and share the same sentiment. I have often reflected on this spell many times in Chicago and continue to do so. This helps me stay still before the Lord. I would consider myself a slow walker, even by rural standards, it's like almost at an elderly pace. When I catch myself at the brisk pace of an urbanite, I am doing so either because I am late or so as to not irritate those behind me.
Having lived in London for the past year, and I can tell you that it's the same here as it is in Chicago, if not much worse. Tube trains are normally once every five minutes during peak hours. Everyone rushes to get off/on the tube/trains only to wind up at the less than optimal urban pace when ascending or descending a flight of stairs or escalators out to the street or into the station; when waiting to scan the card to walk through the barriers between the stairs and the streets; and when entering interchanges which have people coming from all different directions. Same thing would happen in Chicago! It is so funny to watch this happen!
Hiya right back at ya!
It’s been a while, Conner -- never would’ve guessed you made it across the ocean blue to London. From what I remember, I’d venture to say your not a big-city guy, so I imagine it wasn’t a move you made for the sake of the urban scene. Was it for work?
I could’ve guessed this was a widespread issue in most big cities around the world, but having never been to most of them, I have no authority to say so. In that vein, I’m somewhat pleased to hear you affirm that this phenomenon takes place over there as well, not because I think it’s a good thing (obviously) but because it gives me greater assurance that this is truly a human thing rather than just a Chicago thing or American thing. It’s our degenerative tendency (made worse in our concentrated urban habitats) to love the things that are not lovely and reject those that truly are. Silence, solitude, and stillness are not palatable to a fallen species.
Thanks for the comment. Good to hear your thoughts and know my reflections are of benefit to you in the meaningful things of life. Also, your “elderly pace” made me laugh, and it made me very, very happy. I also totally understand the moving fast to not irritate others. It’s part of that inertia that makes it so hard for me to slow down!
Yeah I still am not a city person and London has reaffirmed that. But it is where the people are and they need to know Jesus!
I did indeed move here for work. I came over on a two year religious worker visa to do ministry. I'm also in the process of getting an MTh over here. So I have a little over one-year left.
It is hard to live and think the way God tells us to in Holy Scripture. Satan is always trying to drag us back into chaos. But God and his garce in Jesus will gradually lift us up and out.