What's Your Hurry?

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

I was driving down the parkway this morning that would take me back to my side of the city, traveling at five mile above the posted speed limit of 60 mph.  I am currently driving my old GMC truck, but anyone who knows me can attest that I do not putz along.  I am much more of a lead foot than a slow poke.

A glance in the rear view mirror revealed a very large car parked on my rear bumper, obviously anxious to speed on down the highway.  There was an opening to my right, so I moved over in the center lane to oblige the driver who was in such a huge hurry.  As I cleared the fast lane, the other driver put the pedal to the metal.

Imagine my surprise (and sudden exercise for my right foot) when this person (male? female?) suddenly jerked the wheel to the right [no turn signal, of course], cut straight across in front of me and the car beside me, and jetted into the turn lane for the exit coming up, slamming on the brakes behind the much slower traffic.  My first thought?  "Wow!  What a stupid idiot!"  My second thought?  "Sure wish a cop could have seen that little maneuver!"

 

The world around me always seems to be moving at such a high rate of speed. Whether I am driving on the road or walking to my destination, there always seems to be someone who needs to get around me.  Women in the market who are sailing down the aisle with their grocery cart or racing to the open cashier.  People who brush past me as they hurry down the escalator.  Drivers who fly through marked school zones.  Where is everyone going that requires them to get there yesterday?  In a world that is filled to the brim with stress, why do we put additional pressure on ourselves by gunning our way through life? 

Jesus' invitation to the crowd, recorded in the book of Matthew, has always been one of my favorites.  Tired of the eternal rat race?  Need a little peace and quiet?  Jesus says, "If you come to Me, I will give you rest."  That's the best thing I've heard all day!