I find that many of the mundane things that I do, day in, day out are done on autopilot, particularly where it comes to things like chores. Ok, so we engage more when there is something to get excited about, but I am sure that many people (and I include myself in this) do things because they are there.
The problem with autopilot is that things pass us by that we should be seeing. Martin talked a couple of weeks ago about having a walk on Holy Island where God told him to go more slowly, to not focus on finishing the walk but enjoying the walk for what it was and take time to admire the beauty of God’s creation.
Then there is stuff that we do because it’s there. My downfalls on this point are 2 things, Facebook and Sky Sports. I can waste hours of otherwise valuable time (of which I don’t have enough anyway) surfing Facebook (which does have a place in life) and watching “seniors power boat racing” or some such marginal sport – very interesting but entirely pointless!
Jesus however was not an autopilot person – he saw people and things as he went about his daily life that he did something about – some of his healings and miracles were as he walked along the street, ostensibly minding his own business.
My point here is about consciously doing things and doing the right thing, the God thing. Smith Wiglesworth, a famous Yorkshire revivalist from the early 20th century said this: -
‘Live ready. If you have to get ready when opportunity comes your way, it will be too late. Opportunity does not wait, not even while you pray. You must not have to get ready, you must live ready’.
Whilst Smith wasn’t talking directly about the Second Coming as described in Revelation, there are similarities in his comment. How much stuff do we clog our lives up with that prevents us being ready, and how often are we on autopilot resulting in a missed opportunity.
Can I encourage you today to look for opportunities and look around you as you go about your daily lives and see what you might be missing, don’t just walk on by!
Enjoy your day.
