I like to Drive Fast.

I was asked to help lead worship out at our camden county campus this past Sunday. It's a bit of drive but I enjoy driving. For some reason it seems to calm my soul and I am able to clear my thoughts enough to hear from God.

Lately my work, stress, and life has clogged my heart and my ears and I've felt like God and I needed a moment. I put on my Ipod, and just drove.

I thought about the songs I'd be leading, and prayed I'd remember the words and guitar parts. I worried about the meeting with a friend and hoped I'd not allow myself to be too emotional. I was bombarded by my work and the realization I am behind in and all the things I want to accomplish but feel I might never reach them. Needless to say my calming drive to Camden became an anxiety trip on all the things I can't control. Just then I noticed a truck on the side of the road with a flat tire, and I felt God say, "Chari, things could be so much worse!"

I seem to always come back to this.

I am driving 80 miles an hour past my life and I am missing the life moments, the life lessons I need to learn. These are the lessons I need to survive the next season. I'm rushing through the levels without getting all the points!

I read this morning in 1 John 3 "If you are wise and understand God's ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with humility that comes from wisdom."

I sat at my desk and closed my eyes, "Dear Jesus, am I living an honorable life?"... "Does my life reflect a life of humility that only comes from wisdom?" The verse went on to say that , "Wisdom from above is first of all PURE, it is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness."

I started thinking of the people God had but in my life that embodied these things...

First was my husband who before anything is the wisest person I know and always has the purest intentions. It never matters how or if he was wounded in the situation he always takes the high road and seeks God about everything. I can't believe I was blessed with him as my husband...its mind boggling.

Then I began to think of Lindsey V (the lindseystar) who is the most sincere person I have ever met. I've watched her yield any personal ambition, and even the call on her life so she could build others up., and see others flourish. It's awe inspiring to sit down and hear her speak of the vision she has for the ministry in which I serve. I hope to one day be half the woman she is.

Then there is Carter, who makes my heart hurt. This kid will seek after God with such reckless abandonment that one might think she's fallen of the face of the earth...She is my reminder that this life isn't about me but about those that are coming up after me.

...each makes me long to be better and...the funny thing is these are the 3 people I argue with the most. And yet they love me, and encourage me, and remind me that in order to live this life the way I feel called to, that I need to yield, and stop driving so fast through this life.

So here I am thanking God for every moment, every simple drive, every person in my life that makes me better.


- Chari