Do You Know Where YOUR Brake Pedal Is?

On my 16th birthday, my grandfather gave me his car.

It was a 1968 Renault (we pronounced it "Ren-ault" in West Virginia...with a hard "t" sound at the end...unlike the rest of the world which said it with a silent "t"... "Ren-oh").

When I first learned to drive that car, I remember how important it was to use BOTH of those little pedals on the floor. There was the "gas" pedal, which made the car go faster.
And there was the "brake" pedal, which made the car go slower.

To pass my driver's exam, I had to show my ride-along state trooper that I knew how, and when, to use them both.

It was an important lesson.

That is how I learned to drive...and today, even after all of these years, I still use both pedals!

But I don't think that is how people are learning to drive today.

It seems that today's drivers are learning how to use only ONE of those pedals on the floor...the GAS pedal!

No one knows how to use the brake anymore. Does anyone even know where it is?

Hardly a day goes by when I don't shake my head in disbelief because EVERYONE around me is driving SO FAST! They love to getthisclosetomybackbumperandpushmetogofasterandfaster andfastereventhoughIamalreadygoingfiveortenmilesperhouroverthespeedlimit!

They go way too fast and get way too close...and there is no margin for error on anyone's part.

This seems to be especially true of Metro bus drivers, little women in big SUV's, and big men in big pickups.

A case in point -- a driver actually passed me the other day on Clough Pike by using the center turn lane (at about 6:00 pm, in the middle of rush hour)! I mean, how much faster could she go once she got in front of me on such a busy road at that time of day?

It is unsafe and unwise. To operate a vehicle safely, you must use BOTH the gas pedal and the brake pedal! Someone needs to start teaching this lesson again to our 16-year-old would-be drivers out there before it is too late (if it is not too late already)!

They need to learn that it is not about how fast you can go. It is not about how fast you can get to your final destination.

It IS about getting there safely and in one piece

In a lot of ways, the way people drive today is like the way they live their lives.

Go...go...go...go!

"I'm going to get there as fast as I can." "I'm going to see how fast I can go."

"Everyone needs to clear out of my way because here I come and my life is more important than yours!"

They know where the gas pedal is and they keep it pressed all the way to the floor all the time.

The problem is, they don't know where the BREAK pedal is...or how to use it. They don't know how to slowwwwww dowwwwwwwn.

They certainly don't know how to stop.

As a result, they never "find the time" to slow down and read the Bible. They don't slow down enough to have a serious and thoughtful prayer life. They don't slow down enough to get really involved in church.

They don't slow down enough to get the know the God who made them...who loves them...and who died for them.

They don't slow down enough to hear Him speak to them.

This is nothing new, of course. Jesus encountered the same "go...go..go...go" mindset back in His day. Remember the story of Mary and Martha?

"As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.

But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."

The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it – it's the main course, and won't be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42, The Message)

It is unsafe and unwise to live life with the gas pedal to the floor all of the time. To live life safely, you must know how to use BOTH the gas pedal and the BREAK pedal.

Give yourself a BREAK today. Slow down. And listen for the voice of Jesus.


Pastor Greg