c. 2007 Religion News Service

ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. _ For 20 years we’ve vacationed here in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state. Each year for a few weeks, we bask in the sunshine, pass the time away in the lazy pace of “island time” and rehumanize ourselves before heading back to our fast-paced cosmopolitan lives.

Yesterday, we joined friends for coffee at the ferry landing as they bid Orcas Island farewell. Nearby, mainlanders hatched dreams that would one day allow them to make this paradise home. They feel the draw of a smaller place _ this island has a year-round population of 4,500 _ and a slower pace in an unspoiled environment where bald eagles and pods of Orca whales make their home.

This year we are the envied ones; we are staying. Call it an experiment in rediscovering what it means to be fully human in a dehumanizing age.

For some time I’ve believed America’s spiritual impoverishment and human angst is directly related to today’s frantic pace, where completing our daily tasks is a higher priority than human interaction. As a result, we are the most productive workers on the planet and _ according to many psychologists _ also the least connected relationally.

A few years ago I heard an expert on C.S. Lewis describe the secret of Lewis’ productivity. He said: “Lewis’ style of spirituality was a rhythm of worship, work, reading, and leisure. This is an un-frantic response to God who is, as Lewis insisted, always a courteous Lord. Lifestyle is revealed by the use of time: what is given place and space; what is included and what, therefore, is excluded.

“What we see in Lewis is the steady place of his parish church; the quiet regularity of his Bible-reading and prayers; the natural large place for his main work of study and writing; the large blocks of time for leisurely conversations with special friends; and the importance of letter writing, especially with those who sought his help in the matter of Christian pilgrimage. For all of his immense output of literary work, his life is marked by a spacious, un-frantic rhythm of worship, work, conversation, availability and intimacy.”

A lot of people ask me how to manage the craziness of today’s popular culture: how to make discerning choices about film, TV, music and entertainment.

Nothing is more important than knowing what should be given place and space; what should be included and what, therefore, will be excluded.

I ask myself how much time and space Lewis would allocate for television or movies? Which letter would have gone unanswered or which conversation with J.R.R. Tolkien would he have missed at their favorite hangout, the Eagle and Child Pub?

Which book would have not been written if Lewis had gotten hooked on “24” or “American Idol” or “Survivor”? Ooops, there goes “Mere Christianity” … Ooops, there goes “Screwtape Letters” … No time to write, Lord, I’m watching TV!

In today’s fast-paced world, if you want to live an un-frantic life, you have to make some tough decisions. If you want more space for things that matter, you have to make less space for media and entertainment.

You don’t have to move to an island to do this, but so far I am learning some interesting lessons.

Newspapers, books and electronic media are not absent on the island _ this place has the state’s highest per capita educational level of any county _ but they do seem to take a back seat to walking on the beach, sitting on the deck with a glass of wine and getting out the binoculars to get a closer look at the local wildlife out on their show.

Island people definitely aren’t in a hurry. They stop by to say hello. Ever since our moving van arrived, we’ve had literally dozens of drop-in visitors. Virtually every day, I reach 5 p.m. having accomplished few of my goals, but I also realize that my “people time” has been ample and rich.

What if people aren’t interruptions in our day, but are the purpose of our day? This seemed to be Jesus’ view. Most of what he accomplished involved people who stopped him while he was on his way somewhere else.

I’ve embarked on my year around island life with two primary questions: What will I learn about being fully human? And how transferable is it to life on the mainland? I’m embarking on a journey towards a more fully human life. So far, the word “un-frantic” living and time for people seem to be recurring themes.

(Dick Staub is the author of “The Culturally Savvy Christian” and the host of The Kindlings Muse (http://www.thekindlings.com). His blog can be read at http://www.dickstaub.com)

KRE/CM END STAUB

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