The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to stay emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world

Chapter 7 introduces the first of four practices of Jesus which Comer presents in Part 3: silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and habits of slowing down. Comer begins by illustrating the dramatic changes in contemporary society within the previous 30 years, during which time people went from a culture in which waiting in silence (with the concomitant boredom) was a real part of everyday experience, to a culture in which media entertainment is so pervasive and so accessible that there are no moments left in which silent waiting is required—there are always the infinite distractions of a smartphone at hand. While effacing boredom from our lives might not sound so bad at first, Comer argues that the ability to fill every moment with distraction is having a dangerous effect: “[T]his new normal of hurried digital distraction is robbing us of the ability to be present” (121).

Comer examines several of the gospel stories about Jesus, noting in particular the way that he often retreated out to the eremos (variously translated as “wilderness,” “deserted place,” or—Comer’s favorite—“a quiet place”) to spend time alone and pray. The striking feature of these stories is that Jesus appears to withdraw into quiet places even more frequently when circumstances in his life are the busiest, which suggests that what we need in the midst of busyness is not more time for more tasks, but more time to rest and recharge in the presence of God to be fully present for the tasks we have.