SIDNEY, THE WORLD SNAIL RACING CHAMPION

 

Neal Pollard

Congham, England, was home to this year’s riveting race between arguably the world’s fastest snails.  Sidney, the winner, traveled 13 inches in a scorching 3 minutes, 41 seconds.  For the feat, he was awarded a silver tankard full of lettuce (via UPI).

Do you ever feel like a contestant in a snail race?  Does it ever seem like the faster you go, the further behind you get?  Perhaps you find yourself, at times, a jackrabbit observer helplessly watching others move at a snail’s pace, unwittingly testing and trying your patience as the wheels of progress seem, if turning, to be doing so imperceptibly.

There are times the Bible tells us to be swift.  James says to be quick to hear God’s Word (Js. 1:19).  Jesus says to quickly reconcile with our enemies (Mt. 5:25).  Ananias urged Saul to wash away his sins in baptize without delay (Acts 22:16).  There are also times the Bible tells us to be slow or to go slower.  Back in James one, we are to be slow to speak against or be wrathful against the Word of God (Js. 1:19).  Solomon wrote, “Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God” (Ecc. 5:2a).  He also lauds those “slow to anger” (Prov. 16:32). Hurriedness can amount to sloppiness (Pr. 19:2).  Quick-tempered behavior is roundly condemned (Pr. 14:17, 29).

Certainly, there are times when being slow, spiritually, can be costly or even catastrophic.  Jesus called those men slow to believe God’s Word “foolish” (Lk. 24:35).  Felix put off a response to the gospel, likely never getting around to the salvation of his soul (Ac. 24:25).  How many were going to get around to obeying the gospel, but will have been eternally too slow?  How many Christians were going to be restored to faithfulness, were going to get more involved, or were going put away sinful habits and lifestyles?  While growth is a protracted process, it is a detectable one.

Are you dragging your feet regarding something vitally important?  Are you traveling at a snail’s pace when you should be moving with haste?  Say with David, “I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119:132).