Read
2Willingness and stupidity
don't go well together.
If you are too eager,
you will miss the road.
3We are ruined
by our own stupidity,
though we blame the Lord.
Reflect
We are familiar with the slogans that remind us that speeding behind the wheel kills. In today’s reading it’s not a matter of death, but rather that speeding can cause us to miss the goal. It’s interesting to compare driving a car with the way we live our lives. Studies tell us that a pedestrian has a range of vision of 180 degrees, while a driver going at 100 km/h has a range of 45 degrees. If, however, he drives at the speed of 130 km/h, his range of vision is dramatically reduced to 30 degrees. In other words, the faster you drive, the more your angle of vision diminishes. The more we make impulsive decisions the more we will miss seeing the important things. This is the result of a lack of reflection.
How difficult it is to slow down when we are enthused about a project; new opportunities; a new career; or meeting new people . . . . the brake pedal seems nonexistent. Then reality strikes: we begin to make mistakes. We don’t see the road signs any more. We fail to think of the consequences. In the end we don’t reach the goal that we set for ourselves in the beginning. What a shame to have gone so fast!
By contrast, when it comes to assuming our responsibilities we are very slow and take lots of time. In the end we blame God. Why did he permit this ? . . . why did he let me take this course of action, etc,?
Perhaps a bit more reflection at the beginning will enable us to take on our responsibilities better, and to learn from our errors!
Respond
Lord, I would like to ask forgiveness for the times I have been too quick to act and have missed the road that was best for me. Forgive me also for having blamed you for my mistakes. Help me to take the time to look around me carefully before I make important decisions. Amen.
Gérald Emery
Born in Switzerland, Gérald Emery moved to Quebec when he was 18 in order to operate a dairy farm. Six years later, he went into the ministry, serving in Quebec City for six years and in Portneuf for nine years. In addition, he taught for nine years at the bible college (Institut Biblique du Québec) in Longueil. He has been pastor of a church in Gatineau since 2011. Emery holds a bachelor’s degree in theology (BTh) from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, and he has almost completed his master’s degree, studying at St. Paul University in Ottawa.