Why be in a hurry?
Give me a minute to explain.
A young leader, a recent president of Liberty’s student government, spent a couple of hours with me last semester. He wanted to discuss his new student life position. He has been tasked to consider an approach with students about their use of technology. I addressed how I think it’s best to ask questions or set up methods (such as case studies) that encourage students to come to their own answers. But it wasn’t until I mentioned delayed gratification and being disciplined by hardship that eyebrows rose.
None of us are immune to shortcuts. I feel it all the time in research. But I believe that slow, painstaking, deliberate thinking fosters better understanding, further developing wisdom. The Hebrew word selah that punctuates many Psalms means “stop, ponder, reflect, consider,” in essence, don’t rush. The lesson for us all is that fast is not always a friend of good.
Thanks for spending this minute with me, Dr. Mark Eckel.
Mark Eckel (MA English, ThM Old Testament, PhD Social Science Research) is Executive Director of the Center for Biblical Integration, Liberty University.
“Give Me a Minute” is an ongoing effort to simply, clearly, and quickly explain aspects of true Truth.
Gratitude, as always, to my longtime friend, videographer, and tech guru Josh for his continued service.