I’m tapping the brakes, but nothings happening!

Fear. Panic. Immediate alertness to my surroundings. My brain was going a thousand miles an hour with so many ‘worst case scenarios.’ And looking past the danger, I then began to fret over how much this was going to cost.

My brakes had gone out.

I’m not a stranger to car problems. I think the gremlins of car mayhem camp out in my driveway, have a party in my engines, and take up permanent residence in every car I’ve owned. It all started with my first car – a Pinto. But that’s a story for another day. Suffice it to say I’ve paid for a few mechanics vacations with all I’ve gone through … maybe not long cruises or month long European tromps, but I’ve dished out enough for a few weekends at Disney World.

Back to the brakes. So I was in a parking lot, getting ready to head home. I pushed the brakes to put the truck in gear and ‘woosh’ … the floor pedal went all the way to the floor. Tap-Tap. Now it’s hard to push … nope, back to the woosh and all the way to the floor.

So I did what any insane person would do, I drove home.

Full disclosure. I wasn’t alone. My wife kept staring at me from the passenger side, tightly gripping her seat belt. I swear I heard some prayers muttered. I know I saw the eyes roll.

Also, I live in a small town with little traffic (compared to Dallas where I used to roam.) I wouldn’t have done this in most places. But I stayed alert, kept a lot of distance from others, and made it home. Maybe I rolled through that final stop sign.

This little event is kind of like life right now. No brakes. We wish someone would stop all the madness – riots, pandemic, fires, hurricanes, and more. Do you know they worked through the alphabet for hurricane names and now are using Greek letters? Add to that friends in the hospital, people losing loved ones, and my mother isolated at a retirement home (I haven’t been able to see her since March.) Stop the world, I want to get off.

And now a battle over a SCOTUS appointment. Arrgghh.

Tap. Tap. And … nothing. Not just is there no indication of any slowing down, it’s like some doofus keeps pressing the gas pedal.

Here is an example of no brakes, major acceleration … I was texting my new daughter in law (a year next month, wow!) She just finished reading Kisses from Katie … now she is talking about 14 kids. Stop the madness. But if that’s what they want, go for it. And enjoy the ride getting there.

God never promised a storm free life. He never said it’s will all be calm and relaxing. He did promise His peace and His presence through the storms. He can calm the seas, but more often He just helps us weather the storm. Peace He gives.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Jesus

So no brakes? Be at peace. Can’t catch a break? Peace is promised. Want to break something? Breath deep and remember, peace.

God’s got it.