Speeding through Life!

Fifty six miles per hour in a 35 miles-per-hour zone. Yikes! On the way to work, my mind was preoccupied by an upcoming trip overseas. I was intensely focused on the needs of my trip and the tasks to be done in preparation on that last day in the office. I was oblivious to my driving and the rules of the road. Even when stopped by the policeman, I was so unaware that I sincerely asked, "Is there a problem?"

How easy for me to speed through life, oblivious to what is happening around me. Even more troublesome is how easy it is for me to speed through life unaware of the people around me. Family, friends and "neighbors in need" are lost in my busyness to "do good." Jesus talked about this in the parable of the Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-37)

The irony of the parable of the Good Samaritan is that a scorned Samaritan shows love to his neighbor whereas a priest and Levite, who had intimate knowledge of God's Law, did not. There were many factors involved in their superficial glance as they walked by the wounded man. Like me, the priest and the Levite were probably focused on thoughts and issues beyond their immediate surroundings rather than the needs or issues of the moment. They walked on by.

God lays many opportunities across our paths daily. Are we so entrenched in our urgent activities that we do not see those opportunities? Let us not miss the richness of what God may have in our paths this week. Also, observe the speed limit, a speeding ticket is expensive!!

Sharing the journey with you,