Mythbusters

I was watching Mythbusters the other day. It was the one where they were debating the huge water slide launch into a teeny tiny pool, and the package delivery truck saving gas by only making right hand turns. The slide launch...I want one in my backyard. I don't think they have enough adult water slides in random places. Shouldn't there be an emergency slide out of work? And instead of a fire escape...picture a water slide.

The delivery truck company was making the case that instead of traveling the direct route to a destination...only taking right hand turns would save time and gas consumption because they wouldn't be sitting idle at the traffic lights waiting to turn left. Which, in theory, could make sense. But, as it turns out, is not faster nor gas efficient...even though it was close. Close enough to take a second look...and close enough for a major company to use this as everyday practice.

Think of computer programs. They are full of shortcuts, and shortcuts for the original shortcuts. Competent, intelligent people who put shortcuts on their home screen to save time. Why are we so obsessed with saving time? Maybe because we are filling our time with things that we subconsciously know don't matter. Sitting in traffic, sitting in a meeting, waiting in line at Starbucks, waiting for the Comcast guy, being put on hold with a customer service rep who doesn't speak English, facebooking, blogging, texting, chatting, googling...the list goes on.

Are we trying to save time from all these things...or for these things?

Now, I'm not trying to say that we save time for the customer service guy. But facebooking, texting, watching tv...yea, probably. There's nothing wrong with those things (I remind myself as I stare at the basket of laundry haunting me as I blog) but are we filling the rest of our time with things that really mean something? Like building our relationship with Christ? Spending our time in prayer, in fellowship, in His Word? What price are we paying by taking the shorter route...by only making right hand turns...by adding shortcuts to our hard drives?

If we have our eyes on only the end result...on only the finish line...on only the destination drop-off, we are missing the big picture. The journey, the process, the day to day issues and trials we face are being left behind. They are things that we just try and 'get through.' But guess what...

There is no shortcut to your relationship with God.

There is only the path that He chooses for you. And that path includes some waiting. Some standing in line. Some being put on hold. But no matter how long we wait or think we are put on hold...He is always there. Guiding our walk with Him. There is something that you have to learn in that holding period. Something that He needs to tell you. Something that He needs to show you. Something He needs to teach you. And He's there. Waiting for you. Standing in line. Being put on hold.

Let's stop putting Him on hold...and dive into the life that He yearns for us to have. And live the best life we can...in His glory. In His likeness. In His word. He's there...waiting.


Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
Psalm 37:7-9