Pastor Ray's Blog

Dear Friends,

Most cars, including the one I drive, have a feature that lets you know when the fuel is getting dangerously low. In the case of my car a little light on the dashboard signals “low fuel.” When that light comes on I know it is time to make my way to the nearest gas station.

One time many years ago Diane and I were coming home from a trip somewhere with the children and the little light came on. I decided that rather than stop at the nearest gas station which I knew was more expensive, I would try to go a bit further to one that was less expensive. Let me just say, that was not one of my “brighter” decisions. Fortunately the place where I ran out of gas was in front of one of those more expensive gas stations and I was happy to pay them to fill the tank.

I learned then that it is foolish to try to run on empty. Cars need fuel and if the fuel is depleted, the car simply stops running and you are stuck wherever you happen to run out of gas. You can try to “will” the car to go further, but it just won’t work.

I think this is a good paradigm for life in general. We were not created to “run on empty.” Our bodies and our spirits need to be refreshed and renewed. Our marriages need to be revitalized and nurtured. Our relationships need to be strengthened and rejuvenated. You cannot continue to expend energy and resources when there is nothing coming in to replenish the stock. When I hear of someone working 70 or 80 or even 90 hour weeks, I fear for that person. We were not created to operate at that level and sooner or later our bodies and spirits rebel and our relationships suffer and we’re liable to find ourselves stranded in a place we really don’t want to be.

In truth most of the time we have indicators that tell us that we are dangerously close to being empty. Our bodies and our spirits have ways of letting us know when we are pushing the envelope. For example, we find that we have a lack of energy and our hearts are devoid of joy. Unfortunately we don’t always pay attention to the signs that we are dangerously close to empty.

This summer I hope that you will find some ways to replenish your tank. I hope you will find places and times when you can relax and enjoy God’s good creation. I pray that you will spend time nourishing the significant relationships in your life. I hope you will find opportunities where you can feast on God’s word and worship in the life giving stream of God’s Spirit.

Just as you must pull into a gas station to refill your car’s gas tank, you have to be intentional about finding places of refreshment for body and soul. I pray that you will find those places and drink deeply of the living water that Christ gives.

Together with you in Christ’s service,