Going Slow with Dr. Low

Slow Down and Adjust Your Vehicle

Every time I get into the car my wife drives more often than I do the first thing I have to do is adjust the seat.  It's a small Honda Civic so I usually bump my head and knees if I'm not thinking about it and don't adjust the seat before getting in.  Once I sit down I then adjust the mirrors and then comes one of the most important adjustments - changing the radio from country music to my favorite news station.

As I was making these adjustments this morning I thought back to my driver's education (almost 30 years ago!) and how the instructor told us to never drive away until we have made all these proper adjustments including the steering wheel and other things.  In fact, before even stepping into the car we're all supposed to walk around the car checking for tires, lights and obstacles - how many of us actually do that every time we drive away?  This involves slowing down and taking time to walk around our cars before just speeding off - most of us are not that patient or conscientious - we're too busy and in a hurry.

It's not only uncomfortable driving in a car that's not set up properly for your size and style but it can be dangerous too.  And who wants to drive around with the steering wheel practically touching your chin, your knees scrunched into your belly and listening to music you can't stand while you can hardly touch the break pedal or see the mirrors?

While most of us would not settle for a driving situation like this, many people settle for a faith like this.  Sometimes well-meaning churches and Christian programs present Christianity in a one-size-fits-all approach.  We're told to think, act, pray, sing, serve, tithe and even dress in a certain way in many churches, traditions and families.  While many of these things presented to us are good and right, some things don't quite fit us.  Like me getting into my wife's car, we find ourselves squeezing ourselves into an expression of Christianity that doesn't quite fit.  We try and try and try some more but it just doesn't work.  How can we flourish in our Christian walk when we're in an uncomfortable seat listening to uncomfortable music and can't even see God through the windshield or the rear view mirror?

This is one thing I do in this ministry; help people modify the Christian faith they've been presented with (sometimes for years or decades) so that it suits them better and lines up with their particular way of being.  Spiritual temperament, personality, learning style, spiritual gifts and so on affect how a person experiences God and how a person worships God and serves God - we don't all do this the same.

I never present this to people in a selfish, individualistic way.  I am not a fan of selfishness at all; being a part of Christ's body involves humility, compromise and servanthood; it's not one-size-fits all but it's not about selfishly creating our own individual kingdoms either.  But to come alive in the Body and live abundantly and free in the Kingdom we need to embrace a real and personal faith rather than just going along with the crowd - group-think sucks life out of people - we need God to breathe life into us so people see the passion flowing out of us rather than just the status-quo.

Most things needed for regular car health & maintenance are small, simple adjustments but sometimes cars need serious repairs which cost us time and money and involve asking someone for help.  This can be true for our spiritual growth too.  Sometimes people are in need of a more radical change and need to switch cars altogether.  Different cars suit different people for various reasons and we should be open to the diversity in God's children - it's quite beautiful.  It's more important what direction the car is going that what type of car it is.  It's more important that the car is in good working order than it looks a certain way and painted a certain color.


So slow down and take some time to adjust your seat and mirrors and drive towards God's Kingdom.  The Way might be narrow but we still need to walk (or drive) down that path with authenticity and intentionality.  Christianity is a personal faith with a personal God therefor doesn't it make sense to personalize it?