Consider the Sloth

Sloths are the slowest of the slow. Some languages actually pronounce the word as ‘sloweth.’

Sloths run from nothing, not because they are brave but because it’s not in their nature. They speed through the forest at the rate of about 40 yards a day.

They do have enough sense to live where there is a lot of food. Once a week or so, they drop out of the trees to relieve themselves and occasionally they take a swim.

We might call the sloth lazy but is that the right term? What about people just like the sloth. Just because they don’t move at our pace, does not mean that they don’t have a purpose. Only recently, scientists discovered that the sloth’s fur is home to two types of algae. And several types of bugs, and moths and other assorted creepy beings live off the sloth’s fur.

 Apparently, sloths are not lazy; they are just fuel efficient. On that weekly trip to the bathroom, moths lay their eggs in the sloth’s deposit and those eggs hatch and eat from the excrement. When they are grown, they fly up to the sloth and eat algae.

Yes, everything has its purpose.

Our slower friends help us slow down. Think of walking with your slow friend. You have to match your steps to theirs. Our heart rate slows, we have a better conversation. Don’t punish your slow friends. Love them for who they are. Just like the sloth, they have a purpose.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)