Stuck In Neutral

Fast Pass … Fast, Faster, Fastest ~~~~~~>
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Fast Pass … Fast, Faster, Fastest ~~~~~~>


Fast pass, no waiting in line.  In que, no taking turns.  Hurry up.  Get there. Fast. Faster. Fastest.  Three extra fast passes are yours for only $50 plus tax.  You are on vacation but, you have to move fast.  Move your order to the front of the line for an extra $14.99.  You waited too late to order, you need it fast.  Pay for standard, priority or express shipping.  You are in a hurry to get it there, here … NOW.  Everything is on a roller coaster ride.  We literally do not take the time to take time, even with families, our love ones …. the  children.  rollercoaster

I recently watched a ‘fast pass’ exchange of kids.  It was evident in the faces of the adults that they chose a neutral ground, a fast food restaurant, to exchange the kids for his turn with them.  Even the neutral ground was fast.   She did not stay.  He bought them food sat down.  They did not converse, he was on his phone.  One asked why they could not live together.  He did not answer.  He was fast talking to one client after the other.  The kids ate fast, asked to go play.  The children scurried to the playground. Fast, faster, fastest way to raise children in today’s society.  He stayed on neutral ground the entire time.  He did not cross over to their space.  It was evident he was going to tire them out, take them home and put them to bed.

Our politically correct society has taken this attitude as the norm which has stuck us in neutral.  We are constantly in a position of rolling backwards at the first hill.   We are encouraged to keep life neutral; keeping others at arms length, all the while speeding through our days.  It is okay to go through life ‘texting life’ to each other.  Little bytes of interchanges sufficing for real time communication.  It has crept into every aspect of our lives, including spiritual.

Church services are timed to the minute, you hear timers going off on phones should the service run over.  Reminders that other plans are in place and they need to get going.   We only have an allotted time for God.  When we started exchanging Holy Ground for mutual ground it slowly became neutral ground.  Every aspect of our lives is beige in an effort to blend.  So no wonder we start rolling backwards at the first hill, we are in neutral.

Our spiritual life is beige and has become ritualistic.  Everyday the same, if we take time for God at all.  A five minute reading, or listening to praise music on the radio has replaced spontaneous communication with God.  He loves for us to walk and talk with Him.  We can talk with Him constantly, not just meals, morning and nighttime.  We are not instructed to face in any direction at certain times of day.  God offers a complete open channel whereby we can walk and talk in any direction at any time and converse with Him …. about ANYTHING.

It is time to take time.  Wait on the Lord, walk with Him.   Get out of neutral ground, do not go to mutual ground, go straight to Holy Ground.  When you walk with Him, He will order your days.  There will be time for everything.  Life will slow down and you will have peace in your heart.

Deuteronomy 5:33 (NASB)

“You shall walk in all the way which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.”

Jeremiah 7:23 (NASB)

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’

2 Corinthians 6:16b-18 (NASB)

16b … just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

Today.  It is time to get out of the fast, faster, fastest mode with God, spouse, children, parents, friends and even the chance meeting of someone God places in your path.

~ RBG © 2018

 

 

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Stuck in NEUTRAL?


Life can be like an amusement park’s race-track ride.  There are those that pay extra and get the Fast Pass with no waiting, on queue and no taking turns. They haven’t the patience to wait and they do not want to waste time in line because they want to see it all.  They rush around the park looking for the Fast Pass kiosk.  It’s always their turn.  Then there are those that stand in line no matter how long it takes for a chance to be in the car and in the race.  And of course there are always those that just skip the ride and are spectators.Neutral

Are you on a fast track, a slow track or no track?  I think most of us are hustling around at break neck speed, never slowing in the physical realm. But, what about our spiritual life?  Not so simple is it?  Like the world that has caught us up on the speedy path in our daily activities, we are caught up on the world’s pace in the spiritual realm.  But, truthfully, while it may be speedy, it’s actually in neutral.  We’re sitting still, in neutral and the track is moving.

I’ve probably totally confused most of you now.  Here’s what I mean.

1) I watched as a couple met in a parking lot.  She ran around to open the back door, reached in and grabbed the toddler out of the car-seat.  He reached in and got a small suitcase.  In a matter of moments the child had gone from one household to another, an emotionless exchange on the part of the two adults between each other. They barely made eye contact.  The toddler looked complacent, use to the exchange.  It was all done on neutral ground.

2) I watched a pre-teen negotiate the mom in the store.  They wanted a CD.  The mom said she really didn’t want them listening to that kind of music and that she really couldn’t afford it right now.  The child looked at her and raising their voice said, “That’s so stupid.  Life’s stupid, you’re stupid.”  Looking at her child with a sigh she said, “well I guess if you feel you really need it, we’ll get it.”  She didn’t want a scene, she was tired so she took neutral ground in her mind, and gave in to the demand.  She was picking her battle and this was one she thought she could lose. What she did was neutral to hold what she thought was mutual ground and not alienate her child, but in actuality she simply gave up more ground.

3) I watch people make a commitment to a cause, a vow, a decision.  They make resolutions to help someone, to become a better person and to improve a situation.  Noble on the onset, time rushes in and they become neutral.  Their commitment to pray for someone becomes a ritual and has no meaning.  They begin to lose conviction and their vow no longer matters, they change their mind on their decision.  They become politically correct so has not to cause division.  They are stuck in neutral.

No matter the situation in your life, a broken commitment, vow or decision… somewhere you went from mutual ground to neutral ground and left The Lord out of the situation, taking it in your own hands.  There are religions that teach prayer three times a day, or chants and ritualistic prayers.  When your life gets in the fast track and out of control you have forgotten a major TRUTH – YOU HAVE CONSTANT ACCESS.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

How? It means you are always in line with Heaven. You can hear and you can talk with your Lord.  You are always in tune with Him,  on His frequency, talking with Him.  Just as though He were seated in the car with you, you can always talk with Him and He with you.

Problems in situations in your life? It is probably because:

You gave up mutual ground with those in your life for neutral ground when you left Holy Ground.