The World in Meters Per Second

Apr 09, 2025

Multiple side-by-side images of smartphones in people's hands, with various screens showing different things like shopping carts to stock market information to music streaming services — Our smartphone-connected world. Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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two hundred million meters per second—
the rate at which
opinion, news, the scandalous,
        art, music, and hot-take analysis
travel from someone's loose lips
       to the world wide web,
               from the world wide web
       to your fingertips
a whirlwind in the palm of your hand
with the power to reduce
rainforest to scrubland
and mountains to sand;
nevertheless,
the Lord is not in the wind.

A photo of a house severely damaged by an earthquake. Part of the roof has collapsed and bricks are all over the ground from a damaged wall. — Earthquake rubble. Image by Angelo Giordano from Pixabay

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two hundred meters per second—
the speed at which
a seismic wave might travel
through silty clay
and unwittingly pave the way
for Something Something LLC,
Holdings, Homes, or Properties,
those movers of gravel,
those transfigurators,
to modify, commodify, and gentrify;
nevertheless,
the Lord is not in the earthquake.

A photo taken at nighttime. There is a lake in the foreground and backdrop featuring hills with a brushfire going across the width of the photo and the light of the fire is reflected on the water. — Image by Sippakorn Yamkasikorn from Pixabay

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seven meters per second—
how fast a wildfire can spread,
like ideals let loose and turned
into a purification ritual,
intense in heat yet casual
about who and what are burned
or to dust and ash returned;
this is no word from Malachi,
the Lord's not in the fire.

Four photographs: 1) ruffly pale green lichen growing on a dead log, 2) fine, bright green hair-like moss growing in several clumps on the ground, 3) pink flower buds and white 5-petaled flowers growing in a cluster, 4) scallop-shaped mushrooms with brown and white striations growing on a dead, fallen tree — Top row (L to R): ruffle lichen, pale cow-hair moss. Bottom row (L to R): crabapple blossoms, turkey-tail mushrooms

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one meter per second—
the rate at which I walk
through the woods and around the block,
the speed at which I'm able to see
pink and white blooms on the crabapple tree,
Hank planting parsnip
despite pain in his hip,
pale cow-hair moss
looking like green candyfloss,
turkey-tail and ruffle lichens
feasting on old tree remains,
Jorge busking in the market lot
'cause rent is due, job or not;
it's where I hear the soft voice say,
"Here I am, this is the way
to be, to feed, to love, to live,
to weep, to grieve, rejoice, forgive";
this is the unexpected speed,
the speed of God incarnate.

Bible references:
1 Kings 19:11-13
Malachi 3:1-3
Matthew 25:14-46
Philippians 2:3-11

Life Reconsidered

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