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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Are You Going With The Flow?
January 17, 2007
I am embarrassed this morning. I’ve always told my children that they
shouldn’t just blindly follow the pack. I’ve taught them they should be
responsible for their actions and make good decisions regardless of what
their friends are doing. I’ve warned them that if they just go along without
thinking about what they are doing they are certain to get into trouble
somewhere down the road. I should have listened to my own advice. On
Tuesday night I was just driving along blindly following a row of cars and
the next thing I knew there was flashing lights behind me.
I pulled over and when I asked the officer what the problem was he told
me I was going 40 miles an hour in a 25 mile zone. I had no clue I was
doing anything wrong. What could I say? I had no idea how fast I was
going. I was just going along with the flow. I never even bothered to look
at my speedometer. The officer found a good place to do what he was
doing. Picking up unsuspecting speeders there was like shooting fish in a
barrel.
Since Tuesday night I have been much more aware of the city speed
limits. Did you know that the typical posted speed limit anywhere in
Norwich is between 25 and 35 miles per hour? I had no idea. I’ve also
learned something else this week. If you actually travel the speed limit
people will honk at you, give you dirty looks and every once in a while
someone will wave at you with a bunch of fingers missing. I guess a lot of
people aren’t used to following the signs.
We can’t use the excuse that everybody is doing something to defend our
actions. How many times have we heard the expression, “And if your
friend decided to jump off the bridge…” when we were growing up? We
need to take responsibility for our actions and sometimes that means
getting a ticket or setting the speed limit for those who are following you.
The world pushes us to be, try and do everything. We are encouraged to
be as thin as the next super model, as self sufficient as a true survivor, as
fearless as some nut who will lie in a tank with hundreds of snakes, and as
smart as a fifth grader. When I was younger we had the same pressures
but then we only had to keep up with the Jones.
The truth is that God calls us to be the ones who set the pace of life. We
are called to follow Him and learn His ways. He calls us to look to Him
when we want to know the speed limit for life, and He lets us know when
we need to slow down and when we need to stop. Sometimes he speaks
to us through the flashing lights of a police cruiser. Other times God
speaks to us through less subtle ways.
It is important for us to be alert and paying attention so we can spot the
opportunities. We can’t do that if we just go with the flow and follow the
pace that the world sets. We need to be intentional and be the leader and
example for others. That is what I should have been doing the other night
but I learned the hard way.
I can’t promise I won’t stumble and fall again, but I can promise you that
my eyes will be more tuned in to the signs by the side of the road and I
will be in charge of where and how fast I am going.
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
January 17, 2007
I am embarrassed this morning. I’ve always told my children that they
shouldn’t just blindly follow the pack. I’ve taught them they should be
responsible for their actions and make good decisions regardless of what
their friends are doing. I’ve warned them that if they just go along without
thinking about what they are doing they are certain to get into trouble
somewhere down the road. I should have listened to my own advice. On
Tuesday night I was just driving along blindly following a row of cars and
the next thing I knew there was flashing lights behind me.
I pulled over and when I asked the officer what the problem was he told
me I was going 40 miles an hour in a 25 mile zone. I had no clue I was
doing anything wrong. What could I say? I had no idea how fast I was
going. I was just going along with the flow. I never even bothered to look
at my speedometer. The officer found a good place to do what he was
doing. Picking up unsuspecting speeders there was like shooting fish in a
barrel.
Since Tuesday night I have been much more aware of the city speed
limits. Did you know that the typical posted speed limit anywhere in
Norwich is between 25 and 35 miles per hour? I had no idea. I’ve also
learned something else this week. If you actually travel the speed limit
people will honk at you, give you dirty looks and every once in a while
someone will wave at you with a bunch of fingers missing. I guess a lot of
people aren’t used to following the signs.
We can’t use the excuse that everybody is doing something to defend our
actions. How many times have we heard the expression, “And if your
friend decided to jump off the bridge…” when we were growing up? We
need to take responsibility for our actions and sometimes that means
getting a ticket or setting the speed limit for those who are following you.
The world pushes us to be, try and do everything. We are encouraged to
be as thin as the next super model, as self sufficient as a true survivor, as
fearless as some nut who will lie in a tank with hundreds of snakes, and as
smart as a fifth grader. When I was younger we had the same pressures
but then we only had to keep up with the Jones.
The truth is that God calls us to be the ones who set the pace of life. We
are called to follow Him and learn His ways. He calls us to look to Him
when we want to know the speed limit for life, and He lets us know when
we need to slow down and when we need to stop. Sometimes he speaks
to us through the flashing lights of a police cruiser. Other times God
speaks to us through less subtle ways.
It is important for us to be alert and paying attention so we can spot the
opportunities. We can’t do that if we just go with the flow and follow the
pace that the world sets. We need to be intentional and be the leader and
example for others. That is what I should have been doing the other night
but I learned the hard way.
I can’t promise I won’t stumble and fall again, but I can promise you that
my eyes will be more tuned in to the signs by the side of the road and I
will be in charge of where and how fast I am going.
God bless! See you in Church. Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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