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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Country Roads Can Take Us Home
November 15, 2007
I knew I was going to be late so I sped along the back roads of Preston,
Voluntown and North Stonington. I have to be honest with you and admit
that although I was mindful of the speed limits, I pushed it a little bit. That
was until I came up behind a school bus. At that point life shifted into slow
motion like you see in the movies. It was 2/10 of a mile and then the red
flashing lights came on. Stop. Go another 4/10 of a mile and the red lights
begin flashing again. I began tapping the steering wheel as if my actions
could speed up the exit of the children at each bus stop. The minutes
ticked away.
When the bus turned off on a side street I offered up a prayer of
thanksgiving and was ready to try and make up the time. After all, lunch
was waiting for me at the First Baptist Church of North Stonington. That's
when I fell in line behind the most careful driver I've ever encountered. He
was moseying along at just under the thirty mile an hour speed limit. If you
have ever been on Route 49 you understand that there are no
accommodations made for passing zones along this country road. There
are just too many curves and the sightlines are blocked by trees and
stonewalls.
I kept picturing the church in my mind and willing it to appear around the
next bend. It seemed farther away than I had remembered. As I crawled
along, looking back and forth between my watch and the speedometer, I
kept thinking how unfair it was that I got stuck behind these slowpokes.
Mapquest suggested it was a thirty minute drive from Norwich. Obviously
they hadn't taken into account school buses and country drivers. So I just
took a deep breath, settled in, and decided to enjoy the ride.
It was then I noticed the beautiful open fields to my left and the old
farmhouse on my right. They conjured up a memory from my childhood.
Although I have lived in the city for the last twenty-five years, I grew up
in the country. I was raised on Chestnut Hill Road in Colchester. My dad
used to brag that we were the fourth house on the left, two miles down. I
loved riding my bike down those back roads and was always amazed at
the things you saw along the way. My friends and I used to play in wide
open fields like the one I saw that day. We'd play army and tag and hide
and seek. The days used to stretch on forever and we all hoped they
would never end.
It got me thinking that I yearned for those simpler days. Too often I feel
like I am running from one place to the next and don't have time to catch
my breath. Society is like that today. We are pushed to go, go, go. Mom
and dad are both busy working to make enough money to afford a nice
home. The kids run from music lessons, to dance or soccer practice. We
don't have time to sit down for dinner or to do the things we really enjoy.
Come to think of it, the biggest excuse I hear for not coming to church is
that people are too busy.
As I got to the church the other day my mood had changed. I was still
late, but I wasn't as anxious anymore. The trip down those country roads
had brought me home, like the song John Denver sang years ago. I greeted
my colleagues and enjoyed a big bowl of corn chowder and savored the
moment. And as I pulled out of the driveway and headed home, I took my
time and enjoyed the sights.
The truth is that we rush through life and often miss the most important
things. This week we will sit down with family and friends to celebrate
Thanksgiving. As you do, look around the table and give God thanks for
the blessings you have in your life. Then make plans to slow down and to
enjoy life instead of passing it by.
God bless. See you in church. Cal
November 15, 2007
I knew I was going to be late so I sped along the back roads of Preston,
Voluntown and North Stonington. I have to be honest with you and admit
that although I was mindful of the speed limits, I pushed it a little bit. That
was until I came up behind a school bus. At that point life shifted into slow
motion like you see in the movies. It was 2/10 of a mile and then the red
flashing lights came on. Stop. Go another 4/10 of a mile and the red lights
begin flashing again. I began tapping the steering wheel as if my actions
could speed up the exit of the children at each bus stop. The minutes
ticked away.
When the bus turned off on a side street I offered up a prayer of
thanksgiving and was ready to try and make up the time. After all, lunch
was waiting for me at the First Baptist Church of North Stonington. That's
when I fell in line behind the most careful driver I've ever encountered. He
was moseying along at just under the thirty mile an hour speed limit. If you
have ever been on Route 49 you understand that there are no
accommodations made for passing zones along this country road. There
are just too many curves and the sightlines are blocked by trees and
stonewalls.
I kept picturing the church in my mind and willing it to appear around the
next bend. It seemed farther away than I had remembered. As I crawled
along, looking back and forth between my watch and the speedometer, I
kept thinking how unfair it was that I got stuck behind these slowpokes.
Mapquest suggested it was a thirty minute drive from Norwich. Obviously
they hadn't taken into account school buses and country drivers. So I just
took a deep breath, settled in, and decided to enjoy the ride.
It was then I noticed the beautiful open fields to my left and the old
farmhouse on my right. They conjured up a memory from my childhood.
Although I have lived in the city for the last twenty-five years, I grew up
in the country. I was raised on Chestnut Hill Road in Colchester. My dad
used to brag that we were the fourth house on the left, two miles down. I
loved riding my bike down those back roads and was always amazed at
the things you saw along the way. My friends and I used to play in wide
open fields like the one I saw that day. We'd play army and tag and hide
and seek. The days used to stretch on forever and we all hoped they
would never end.
It got me thinking that I yearned for those simpler days. Too often I feel
like I am running from one place to the next and don't have time to catch
my breath. Society is like that today. We are pushed to go, go, go. Mom
and dad are both busy working to make enough money to afford a nice
home. The kids run from music lessons, to dance or soccer practice. We
don't have time to sit down for dinner or to do the things we really enjoy.
Come to think of it, the biggest excuse I hear for not coming to church is
that people are too busy.
As I got to the church the other day my mood had changed. I was still
late, but I wasn't as anxious anymore. The trip down those country roads
had brought me home, like the song John Denver sang years ago. I greeted
my colleagues and enjoyed a big bowl of corn chowder and savored the
moment. And as I pulled out of the driveway and headed home, I took my
time and enjoyed the sights.
The truth is that we rush through life and often miss the most important
things. This week we will sit down with family and friends to celebrate
Thanksgiving. As you do, look around the table and give God thanks for
the blessings you have in your life. Then make plans to slow down and to
enjoy life instead of passing it by.
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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