The hectic pace of life in the 21st century creates a fertile garden for this empowering book. Pastor and professor Kirk Byron Jones confronts his audience with the cultural expectation for speed and hurry in our lifestyles.
The first half of the book explores various factors that create an addiction to hurry including running away from God, running away from our fears, and running away from ourselves.
In the second half of the book, Jones introduces a method he calls “Living life at a savoring pace.” The discussions around The Savoring Pace Alternative focus on “seeing more clearly,” listening more carefully” and “thinking more deeply.” Jones gives us a wonderful road map for the discipline to manage life at a savoring pace.
Jones combines a scholarly mind with a profound imagery of language to challenge his readers to “relish” rather than “rush” through life. The use of poetry, Scripture, famous quotes and anecdotal experiences from the author’s personal pilgrimage make this work jump off the page and into the reader’s frenzied lifestyle. One gets the impression that Jones has lived every one of his illustrations to the fullest.
This book is a provocative and challenging exploration of our compulsion to hurry. The author prepares us with his profound insight and equips us with chapter-by-chapter learning exercises. Learning exercises at the end of each chapter are important to fully comprehend the value of the author’s presentation.
Jones uses a quote from an unknown author to illustrate one of his savoring pace alternatives, the art of listening more clearly. “The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won’t wait while you do the work.”
Anyone who needs to take a long, deep breath during his or her busy day will benefit from this easy but life-changing manuscript.
Jim Royston is executive director/treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
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