First Baptist Church of Herndon

Same ole routine

Linda Soller | Apr 13, 2015

Around here the spring breaks of local school systems are tied to Easter. Some are just before the holiday and some just after. The fringe benefit of this arrangement is reduced traffic for those of us who stay in town and still go in to work each day. Much like summer we can see a noticeable difference in the number of cars on the highways and the lack of large yellow buses. It’s pretty sweet. Amazingly we can become very comfortable with this new traffic pattern very quickly. But reality creeps back in the week after Easter. The buses are back, cars are everywhere, and surprisingly a large number of drivers seem to have forgotten how to drive while on vacation.

It was last Tuesday, the local county schools were back in session, and I was headed to work. It had rained slightly the night before, which seemed to be important, although I’m not sure why. Road crews and tree cutting crews abounded, perhaps in anticipation of predicted rain for the afternoon. I was comfortable my slightly earlier than usual departure would offset delays in my ole routine commute. Then it happened. I found myself behind a large red car the size of a small boat sitting at a traffic light. I didn’t get upset, I had plenty of time. Remember I left early. The light turned green and the car began to move, well it seemed to be moving, although it was almost too slow to notice. I try hard not to be the person who hits the horn at the first sign of inconvenience, and we both made it through the light. Cars behind me had elected to switch lanes and go around us. I felt like I should have my blinkers on alerting others of our slow going. This situation continued and while it crossed my mind to go around there really were no safe opportunities. We were about a mile and a half from my office. The driver ahead of me in addition to driving a good 10 miles an hour below the speed limit, which was only thirty-five miles an hour, also felt the need to leave a three car gap whenever we stopped. This proved to be perfect for the folks behind us who kept darting out of our lane and back in the lane in front of the red boat, I mean car. Deciding this was a good lesson in patience I stayed where I was. There were only two turns left before my building, when the red car opted to turn right, without the assistance of a turn signal, and slowing down a bit more. Yes, it actually slowed down. No, I didn’t hit them. Thank you Lord for that. My same ole routine had been anything but.  

Christians, like everyone else, tend to have routines too. I am reading a book by Steve Gilliland call “Making a Difference”. It’s a great book, and at one point he says, going to church doesn’t make you a Christian... I just love that expression, because it speaks to the concept of routine. Do you go to church because it is part of your routine? Over the past few Sundays Pastor Sean has asked the congregation, “Why are you here?” What a great question.  When is the last time you thought about why you go to church? I think we fall in to one of two groups. The first goes to church because it is part of their routine, sometimes they benefit and sometimes they can’t tell you what the sermon was about. The second group goes to church routinely because it’s a demonstration of their faith. They are actively engaged in the experience. I am all for going to church, whichever group you may fall in to, but I challenge you to consider how church fits in your routine. The next time you go to church, be it next Easter, or next Sunday, ask yourself why you are there. If it’s your same ole routine, try listening a bit harder, praying a bit more seriously, and truly embrace the experience. Your same ole routine may never be the same again.

Have a great week! :o)  Linda