Clay in the Hands

On Monday, several of our staff and a couple of lay leaders piled into a van and made a short seven hour drive to Dallas.  We headed there for a workshop to learn more about a family ministry emphasis we will be implementing in the fall.

It was a great trip complete with wonderful conversation, informative meetings and a bit of dreaming of how things could and should be in our church.

The conference wrapped up on Tuesday about 3:30 and we again piled into the van for the quick commute back home.  There were many things that happened along the way that may become the source of a post in the future but what I am reflecting on this day is what happened in the final few miles of the trip.

As we drew near to home, the gas gauge was nearing “Empty.”  When we were over 100 miles from home, the low fuel system informed me that we could travel 150 miles before running out of gas.  That was fine because we only had 120 miles to go – leaving 30 miles to spare.  (Some of you are already nervous about how this story will end.)

As we got closer to Corpus Christi, that gap got closer and closer.  The miles traveled were moving slower than the fuel range estimate.  By the time we turned onto the street that leads to the church, we were 1.6 miles from the parking lot of the church and the system was telling me we could travel 2 miles before being out of gas.

Honestly, it became a  quest.  Unfortunately, not all passengers were equally passionate about this quest.  So I gave in and pulled into a gas station to fill up.

As I have reflected on the experience, my thoughts have turned to our spiritual well-being.  So often we push ourselves to the point we are running on fumes.  But while there are signs that we might be running low on spiritual sustenance, there is no light that comes on to warn us and certainly no message we receive that reminds us that we are about to run completely out.

It is so important to keep our spiritual tanks filled.  We need the fuel that comes from time with the Father.  We can only go so long on our own strength – and we never make it as far on our own strength as we think we will.

Make sure to slow down today and refill.  God is always ready to spend time with you.

Will you make time for him?