Make Haste Slowly

The Romans borrowed the motto *Festina lente* from the Greeks, and Caesar Augustus polished and embraced it as perhaps no other leader in history. It means, "Make haste slowly." Octavian Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome at the time of Jesus' birth. He is the one mentioned in Luke 2:1, "In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered."

Regardless of how one assesses this emperor's reign, it's difficult to deny that he was productive—very productive. The simple underlying principle that made him so was *Festina lente.* He held to it tightly and even chose a symbol of the motto to adorn the reverse side of some of his coinage. His face, of course, occupies one side of the coin, while the flip side shows a crab hoisting a butterfly. The crab represents slow, deliberate movement, and the butterfly symbolizes what is quick and agile. It seems counterintuitive and perhaps even an oxymoron to say, "Make haste slowly." But as we get under the surface, we realize that there's serious wisdom there.

*Festina lente* calls for a thoughtful deliberateness and diligence in life that results in relentless, rather than merely rapid, progress. This kind of deliberate living should not sound foreign to Christians. The Proverbs teach us that "in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps" (16:9). We make our plans, but those plans must be submitted to God's will. We are likewise told, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" (3:5-6). Rather than rushing to a finish, we ask for wisdom (James 1:5). When the time comes to move, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters"

(Colossians 3:23).

*Festina lente.*