HOPE Chapel

I have come to the conclusion that filling up the car (van/truck/motorcycle) is one of the most annoying chores that I do. 
1) I realized that it never happens at a convenient time.  It is just that time when I need to get somewhere quickly, and have no time to take a detour, that the gas light comes on. 
2) There is also no convenient place.  When my gas tank is full, there are gas stations everywhere, but when I am worried about running out of gas, I seem to be able to go for miles and never see one. 
3) Not to mention that I end up having to sit and wait in line so that I can overpay someone to take his time filling up my car when he decides to get to me.
Yet without doing this, I would be stuck.  I could go no where, accomplish nothing, and be stuck in the same place all the time.

As people, we are remarkably like that.  We do not have endless tanks of energy and emotion that never need to be refilled.  We need to be filled up, to have time to be re-energized, to regain a perspective on things and to have our batteries charged.  Everyone's gas tank gets filled a little bit differently, but there are two things that seem to be common for everyone.  The first is being meaninfully connected with another person or persons and the second is spending time in quiet and reflection with God and his Word.  It is amazing how much more energy we can have after having a meaninful conversation with another person who cares about us.  When we read the Bible and talk to God, he fills us up and gives us renewed enthusiasm for living this life.

But in our busy culture, we can get so busy that there is never a convenient time for any of these things.  We are so busy with work, tasks, ministry, hobbies, kids and so on, that we put off going to the "gas station", neglecting our time with others and with God.  And then we wonder why it's so tough, as we run out of gas and spend our energy pushing the car instead of driving it.

So fill up your tank.  Take time with God today.  Read.  Pray.  And make the effort to connect with the person who can encourage you.