Come to Me

“Come to Me …”The accelerator (gas pedal) kept sticking on the old 63 VW Bug. When you wanted to stop and pushed in the clutch the motor just stayed revved up. The pushing down wasn’t the problem, letting off the gas was. You had to reach down, drive blind for a second, and pull it back with your hand, not a good or save idea.You ever feel like that? That your accelerator is stuck? That your life stays revved up? And even when you have a moment to stop your insides, your mind, your emotions continue to race? The questions, the anger, the frustrations, the worries, the fears, the pain, the being overwhelmed, and the thoughts just won’t return to idle? And it would be nice if it were as easy as reaching  down to pull back the pedal, but you have no idea where the pedal is?Unfortunately we live in a culture that stays revved up, and if anything the RPMs are only increasing. Couch potatoes are glued to TVs, computers, and video games. Something seems to be always on, the music, the talk, and the images never stop. We are rarely disconnected; the phone is never off, always within reach. The I-Pod plays and plays, and all along more and more and more information. Our response as a society is to take more and more pills hoping to unstick the accelerator. We drink more, grow more pot, seek more distractions, and try anything and everything to unwind. Because we know, like that 63 VW Beetle, we are not built to run without idling. We are not meant to go through life with the pedal to the metal. If we do, we wear out, we get sick, we break down, and eventually we’ll blow up the motor.It’s the back of the gas pedal and the linkage that’s the problem. Those parts are worn out from use and a spring is missing. I came up with a temporary fix and then went online to order replacement parts. That’s so much like us isn’t it? We jump at the temporary fix because it allows to keep going, except  it is, well, temporary and so we find ourselves back to square one sooner than later. Don’t you wish it were as easy as ordering a few replacement parts and installing them? Then again maybe it is?Ferdinand Porsche, who designed the VW Beetle, was by all accounts a brilliant guy. He knew that besides his design the car also needed a regular maintenance schedule for oil changes, valve adjustments, etc, and that the car should be regularly inspected to look for and fix worn out parts.  And it needed to be driven right, understanding that it wasn’t a race car.God, who designed you and me, is without question more brilliant than all of the world’s geniuses, including you. He knows that there are things we regularly need to keep going. Weekly worship and rest, daily prayer, continual adherence to the operating and maintenance manual (the Bible), driving/living with gratitude, simplicity, generosity, compassion, humility, selflessness, doing good, and Christlikeness.If you own a VW Bug you can ignore Ferdinand, but don’t be surprised if your accelerator sticks and all kinds of things break prematurely and leave you stranded. If you have life and breath (since you read this far it is safe to assume that you do), you can ignore God, but don’t be surprised if your accelerator sticks, all kinds of things break down, and no amount of pills, alcohol, pot, fun activities, fancy vacations, metaphysical gyrations, or strange “spiritual” practices will bring you lasting peace and rest for your soul.When things are broken in your life, when things stick, when you no longer know how to slow or settle down, when anxiety, fears, worries, destructive habits, and a lack of inner peace are part of your reality, your life, it is a sure sign you need to remember and return to your Designer, your Creator, God, and His wisdom and ways for living.“Come to Me, all you who labor (are weary) and are heavy laden (burdened), and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV, parenthesis mine) To God be all glory, love you Pastor Hans