The Speed Bumps of Life

Whether you are driving down the road or you pulling into the Church Parking Lot and suddenly you see a sign: SPEED BUMP AHEAD. What do you do? Do you step on the gas to speed up and try to fly over it? Probably not.

You slow down. You take your foot off the accelerator, pay attention to what is ahead, and carefully make your way over the bump. Then, once you are safely past it, you continue on your journey.

It is a simple thing we have all experienced. But maybe there is a lesson about God and our Catholic faith hidden in that little speed bump as God Sometimes Tells Us to Slow Down.

Life moves too fast. We rush to work. We rush home. We rush our children from one activity to another. We worry about appointments, bills, family responsibilities and everything that needs to get done tomorrow.

Sometimes we even rush through Mass. We walk into church thinking about where we have to go afterward. We hear the readings, but are we really listening? We say the prayers, but are we thinking about the words? Then suddenly...

SPEED BUMP. Something happens that interrupts our plans.

Maybe it is a disappointment. A problem at work. A family difficulty. A friendship that changes. A prayer that seems unanswered. Or simply a moment when life does not go the way we expected.

Our first reaction may be to push harder and get through it as quickly as possible. But perhaps some of life's speed bumps are opportunities to slow down and look for God.

Scripture tells us: “Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:11. Those words are almost like God's own SLOW DOWN sign.

The Roman Catholic Church places spiritual “speed bumps” along our journey for a reason. Sunday Mass asks us to stop our normal routine and give time to God. Prayer asks us to quiet the noise around us and listen. Confession asks us to examine the direction in which our life is traveling. Lent asks us to slow down, sacrifice and turn back toward God. Advent asks us to wait patiently and prepare our hearts for Christ. And the Eucharist asks us to stop and recognize that Jesus Christ is truly present among us.

These aren't obstacles keeping us from living our lives. They help keep us traveling in the right direction.

Jesus Slowed Down Too. Think about the Gospels. Jesus was surrounded by crowds. People constantly wanted His attention. Yet Jesus still made time to step away and pray. If Jesus made time to stop and pray, shouldn't we? Perhaps one of the greatest dangers in our spiritual lives isn't that we stop believing in God. Maybe it is that we become too busy to notice Him.

So next time you are in church, Slow down. Look around and Listen.

God may be closer than you think.

Joe Marateo