Thursday, November 15, 2012

Running on Empty

Years ago, when I was just a young man starting out with a wife and a mortgage and not much money (because of the mortgage, not because of my wife), the fuel gauge was showing "E" and payday was tomorrow. As I was about to pass the gas station, I knew I needed to stop but I only had $3 and, once again, tomorrow was payday.

We only lived two miles from work and I figured that I probably had enough fuel to get home and two miles back to work and, then, the mile back to this service station. I mean, we were only talking two start ups and three miles. Plus, I really wanted to keep the $3 in case I wanted a honey bun and a cola.

I guess you know what happened. However, it didn't happen as you may think. As I turned in beside the gas station on my way home, the car started to spit and sputter. I thought, "Well, it is probably just sloshing up away from the fuel pump. Once I get straightened out, it should run fine." That was not the case.

As I tried to continue on, the car completely died. I came to a stop, got out, and pushed the car back to the service station, where I put the entire $3 in the fuel tank.

I think we run our lives much as I ran that car. We are constantly going and doing and striving to fit twenty-six hours in our twenty-four hour day. We try to squeeze every ounce of fuel out of our day. While that may work for a while, eventually, we are going to run out of gas.

Today's word comes from Mark 6:31, using the North American Standard Bible, which reads, "And He said unto them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while..."

The disciples, along with JESUS, were being constantly pressed by the crowds and didn't even have time to eat. JESUS finally told them that they needed to get away from all the hustle and bustle and REST a while. I think that is good advice for us in the world in which we live. We need to take the time to rest and relax and unwind. If not, we may just find ourselves running on empty.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T

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