image from Caltrans
As part of our 45th anniversary last February, we chose to celebrate it at a time share resort in northern California’s Clear Lake, and took off from SoCal. Waze did a fine job, usually, and bypassed us off the crowded 101 in the Bay Area. We approached the appropriate exit, with a lot of backed up traffic: three lanes for normal traffic, one empty lane on the right for FasTrak. She told us to get in the FasTrak lane, but we had no transponder, and I had no desire to lose the $271 fine without one, so I slowed down in one of the three lanes. Then…I noticed a decent sized sign on the FasTrak lane, “Transponder Only Required 5-9 PM, M-F,” and realized this was Saturday about 10:30 AM.
So with a great glee I pulled to the right and passed a WHOLE lot of traffic, and this reminded me of our need for situational awareness: paying attention to what’s going on around us. You know the type—they stop in the middle of a crowded Costco aisle, blocking traffic while blissfully unaware as they check the prices on various items, and four to five carts back up on both sides. They read their phones at a stop sign, unaware of the green light for twenty seconds, causing those at the back of the line to not make the light. Yeah, and a lot more.
The spiritual hooks? First, ignoring our physical surroundings can hurt us. I noticed the sign in time to take advantage of it, or I would have lost half an hour in traffic. But those actions may reveal we lack the spiritual fruit of kindness. We place our desires above others, we forget the essence of following Jesus is serving them. But how can we serve them if we blindly ignore their needs? Maybe we all need to grow in our awareness of how we impact others, often without having a clue.
Second, a lack of awareness also impacts spiritual realities. Are we alert to share Jesus with others, at any sign of receptivity, either with a smile or actions or words? “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Are we aware of possible openness?
Let’s expand that. Are we aware of the spiritual significance that many decisions carry? The possible consequences? Do we consider this before we choose? “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him” (1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT). We can’t stand firm unless we see the attack. Do we look for the spiritual importance of our daily actions? Our decisions?
The key: let’s be aware of others and how we impact them. Be aware of spiritual ramifications we often don’t consider ahead of time.
Kick Starting the Application
How deliberately are you alert to your physical and spiritual surroundings? How can you intentionally grow in this?