Monday, July 21, 2014
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I was on a typical wall-to-wall schedule, and old man winter wasn't cooperating. I was traveling with my wife and we were slipping and sliding through this major snow storm to get to our flight at the airport. We heard on the radio that flights were being seriously delayed. I told my wife, "That airport's going to close. I know it is." So we made a last-minute decision. We called Amtrak. They had two seats left on the train, and we diverted from the airport to the train station.
Now, it worked, but I was not a happy camper. I had no choice. They did close the airport that day, and as it turned out, we had to take the train both ways - to Chicago and back. But you know, as I watched America go by outside my window, I have to confess I began to unwind. This is the stuff I usually fly over in my rush to get to my destination. Now I've got a confession to make. The next trip my wife and I had to make - I asked her to check on the train.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "What You're Missing When You're Flying."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from some of the most familiar, beautiful words in the Bible, Psalm 23. "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul." This is my favorite picture of my relationship with the Lord: I love Him shepherd, me sheep.
And this is an unusual ministry that the shepherd has. It's described in these verses; one that you might be having in your life right now. It's what I call the ministry of the enforced slowdown. He says, "He makes me lie down." But not in a bad place; it's in green pastures. And He makes you lie down to see some things you could never see when you're running through or flying by.
Now, the Lord has many means of making us lie down, doesn't he? I've experienced a few. Or at least to get you to slow down. He's got medical brakes that He steps on to slow you down, financial brakes, family brakes; some situation that forces us to stop and give it attention. Some circumstance comes along that forces you to go slower.
And then there's me when I had to take the train, grumbling and resisting every step of the way. Maybe you're there right now. But God has things for you to see that you're missing when you're going full throttle. Maybe you've been missing the person you're married to, and God's saying, "Slow down! Rediscover the treasure I gave you in this person."
Maybe you've been missing the daily drama of your child growing up right before your eyes; days you can never get back. And God's putting on the brakes so you can get to know your son or daughter. And unfortunately, a crisis is often what brings a family closer to each other than anything else.
Possibly you've been missing quality time with the Lord Himself, and God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God." Not be busy and know, and you've been flying right past your Lord day after day. Your priorities got jumbled somewhere. At the speed you've been traveling, you can't even see the faces of people. You can't hear what they're saying. You can't enjoy the journey because you're so obsessed with the destination. So in His love, the Shepherd has declared a slowdown for you. Embrace it!
If all of a sudden you can't fly like you're used to doing, don't pound the wall or don't complain. Thank the Lord for making you lie down so you can see some green pastures that you've been flying right by.