Gearbox

Whenever we go down the Ocoee River in southeast Tennessee, it usually associated with whitewater rafting. But one Saturday we decided to go down another part of the river. There were no rapids to be found, only a less hurried current, peaceful and serene. So we ditched the raft and rush and took a slow boat to China on an inner tube. Not only was it very relaxing, you didn't have to pay much attention to driving, avoiding boulders, suck holes, and being ejected off the raft into some fearful hydraulics. The only concerning hazard along the gentle way was some unseen tree limb lurking just below the surface. It was wiser to stay clear of the riverbanks.


The river run was a changing of gears from overdrive to first gear. The focus shifted from the water to the surroundings. I could look up into the blue sky with puffy clouds and not worry about being thrown off as in angrier waters. Instead of digging in with a paddle, I was drifting lazily with an occasional use of my hands to remain in the middle of the river. Unlike the whitewater, the sounds of wildlife were not drowned out in the peaceful flow. It was not an adrenaline rush by any stretch of the imagination, but more like an appreciative retreat.


Most of our lives are lived in overdrive, furiously going from one point to another, missing everything in between. Ironically, we maintain a frantic pace in our lives in the belief that life is too short and is slipping us by; but in reality we are passing life by at rocket speed. Brevity of life plus speed of light equals blur. We are so intensely focused on the ride that we miss our surroundings; everything is blurred: God, family, friends, God's people, worship, being a witness for Christ, God's creation, and even our sanity! Ever hear of the advice to "Take time to smell the roses?" 

Overdrive is fine if it observes God's speed limits, but God expects us to shift gears now and again. There is no fragrance to be had in continual overdrive, no personal relationships established or enriched with God or man, only a self-powered mania with an impersonal electronic touch.

Be still and know that I am God, declared the Psalmist (Psa 46:10) is not only good for God's enemies to heed, but good for God's people who are running contrary to God's will at breakneck speed. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. Be still is a radical changing of gears from over drive to neutral, akin to running the rapids on a raft to drifting on that inner tube in the calm. If we don't learn to downshift when called upon to do so, the Lord always finds a way of getting our attention in love through the circumstances of life. God wants to meet with us; and we have scheduling conflicts. It is to our benefit to realize that the road of faith has posted speed limits set by God.


Even the autobahn in Germany is limited by the weather. Come to think of it, I much more enjoyed the stillness floating on that inner tube than I did on my back in the hospital. God spoke to me on both occasions. For God's people to be still, and know that he is God is all about learning to downshift, slowing down to a crawl or stopping for God. Changing gears are healthy and respectful. Use your gearbox wisely.