Sudden Haste

Last week while Stephanie and I were in the car together I commented on how it seems more people are driving recklessly these days. I see this particularly on Kessler, my most direct route to and from church. Driving far too fast and running red lights seems to be increasingly normal. So, I said to my darling wife, while I admit I am an assertive driver I am not overly aggressive.

I should have kept my mouth shut. Earlier this week I was running late getting home to take care of the dogs following an unexpected delay in the office. Following a slow landscape truck and trailer, I sat through three red lights in a long backup at Kessler and College. By this point, I had totally lost my patience. I accelerated to make a quick pass and drove right into a speed trap. A police officer with a radar gun pointed at my car and told me to pull over. I wasn’t alone. There were several police officers pulling over drivers going in both directions. Being part of a group did not make me feel better.

The first thing that popped into my head as I gave the officer my license and registration was Act II, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo tells Friar Laurence that he is in love with Juliet and wants to marry her. The friar, knowing Romeo had recently been infatuated with Rosaline, prefers caution but agrees to go ahead with the marriage hoping it will unify two warring families. Romeo exclaims excitedly, “O let us hence, I stand on sudden haste.” To which Friar Laurence responds, “Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.”

Richard Westlake, the director of my high school production — yes, I played Romeo when I was in 10th grade — told us Friar Laurence’s line was the theme of Romeo and Juliet. Almost anyone else would say the theme is Juliet’s famous line from Act II, Scene 2. “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” That may be true, but I favor Friar Laurence. After all, it’s the young couple’s impatience and impulsivity that rushes them to a tragic end.

Fortunately, my “sudden haste” ended in a fine, not in death. Though, the reality is that driving as I was, even if only for a few seconds, could have been much more costly.

And it was a reminder that rushing often leads to stumbling. Losing my patience and driving too fast didn’t get me home to the dogs more quickly. In this instance, going fast actually slowed me down.

The Bible encourages us over and over again to be patient. “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25) “Love is patient; love is kind.” (1 Corinthians 13:4) “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:1-2) “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)

“Wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast.” Sound advice for young couples, drivers, and those of us trying to live a faithful Christian life.