Pull Over

Have you ever been pulled over? Me too. And it was no fun--at all.

Hearing the tone of disappointment and receiving a citation with freshly written ink demanding my appearance and cash just above his signature. He was in no way going to excuse my absent-minded decision to press the pedal so sternly with my witty style of manipulating jargon.

Not only do we find ourselves pulling over because of self-inflicted acts such as speeding and reckless driving, but there are other moments that find us heading to the shoulder of the road as well.

Not too long ago I felt the weight of my truck shifting hard left. Strange to me, I decided maybe I should ease off the road to survey the ensuing problem. Flat tire!

How did that happen? I have my oil changed, brakes checked, and tires rotated like clock work and here I sit on the side of a busy highway wondering how am I going to make it on time to my next venture. Spoiler alert; I was late! Very late!

Sometimes it happens that things beyond our control, like a flat tire, get in the way of us moving seamlessly from one place to the next free of pain or worry. But pulling over instead of ignoring the tug and pull that life puts on us is the best thing we can do.

I'll never forget driving on the dusty roads of Africa admiring the beautiful landscape as we passed by countless acacia trees and creatures of the wild such as zebras, lions, giraffes, and rhinos that can only be found in their natural habitat or zoos around the world.

And as our group admired the beautiful yet rugged terrain we couldn't help but pull over, pause, and stare with amazement. There was something about that moment that captured our attention, captured our affections--our heart--that we would have most certainly missed had we not pulled over.

There are instances in life when the best thing we can do is pull over. Whether it be friends flashing their blue lights of accountability, the natural warning signs of our own life's version of a flat tire, or simply the beautiful design of relationships or God's creation; often our best option is to simply put it in park. Pull over.

I don't know how fast you're racing down life's highway but let me encourage you; don't ignore the warning signs leading to a disastrous and dangerous off road course and don't ignore the beauty of these little moments that can only be enjoyed when you hit the pause button in your life.

Life is happening fast; one selfie at a time! Instead of turning up the music with your windows down, speeding through life, scrolling through everyone's latest post and picture upload; take time to simply stop and enjoy the small moments that are telling a much bigger story than that one song, that one video, that one photo. Pull over!