I experienced the whole “stuck in overdrive” ordeal for real yesterday.
I was driving on the highway when my car started revving up and, even when I tried to brake, the car wouldn’t slow down. I was coming up on my exit — and a red light — in a minute or less, and praying my car would stop even as I imagined my car driving straight into the intersection and oncoming traffic.
I’m thankful my car did stop, but it continued to rev up, so I turned it off. When I turned it back on? Same thing: the engine revved up way too high. So I turned it off again. My adrenaline was as revved up as my car, so much so that I was shaking all over.
I’m happy to report the car eventually calmed down (I did, too) and it’s now at the mechanic’s. Now that it’s all behind me — except for the repair bill — I got to thinking about how we can get stuck in overdrive in our lives. We rev our physical, mental, and emotional engines up and we never throttle back. We start thinking that living that way — revved up — is normal.
Sure, sometimes circumstances demand that we pick up our pace, that we push ourselves, that we get up early and stay up late. But when it’s all over — the deadline, the commitment, the project — we forget to slow down again. We forget to relax and we miss the beauty of life.
My car revs up? I know that’s a malfunction and I’m getting it fixed. The question is: Why do I accept “revved up” as normal in my everyday life?
In Your Words: Revved Up or Relaxed — which would you say is the “normal” for you life?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”7fc7C” via=”yes” ]Revved Up or Relaxed http://ctt.ec/7fc7C+ #InOthersWords #quotes #lifeisbeautiful @bethvogt[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”lcX94″ via=”yes” ]”Relax! Life is beautiful!” http://ctt.ec/lcX94+ #quotes #DavidWolper #lifeisbeautiful @bethvogt[/ctt]
Comments 13
I’m in revved up mode right now. Out of the blue, my husband was offered a job in SC. Our first thought was no way were we moving away from a good and somewhat relaxed and comfortable life.
God has other plans. In a few days, He showed us over and over we are to move. We don’t know why, but we’re going to be obedient and ‘Follow Him.’
Our lives just jumped into overdrive as we look for a house, sell our house (Which means keeping our house neat and clean), study for my SC boards to work there, and the hundreds of other things needed to move. My heart races as I think about our list to accomplish. And then there’s the process of my husband moving first and me staying in KY until our house sells. I’m definitely in a revved up phase of life. And prayers are appreciated. 🙂
I hope you get your car fixed and can enjoy driving around without the added stress.
Thanks for a great post, Beth.
Praying for you, Jackie! 🙂
Thanks, Andrew!
Author
Jackie:
An unexpected, but God-directed, move certainly revs life up! I will be praying for you, especially that you sense God’s overarching peace in the midst of the “all” that you have to do.
Thanks for your prayers, Beth!
I count myself lucky that I can go from revved up to relaxed very quickly, and come off the ‘high’ just as fast.
As an example, the first time I turned laps in a racecar, on the straights I felt so relaxed that I could have dozed off, and would come to life on approaching the turns. It was a weird feeling, but kind of fun to be able to experience that dichotomy so vividly and predictably.
Author
Andrew:
What a vivid word picture you painted, my friend. Knowing how to rev up as needed and to relax when we can (and should). Love it!
Generally I prefer revved up because it gives me a sense of energy and joy and helps me get more accomplished. However, yesterday I was privileged to spend quality hours with a precious soul as one topic was on the best focus for prayer. I awoke in the night hearing that the best focus of all is just to Breathe In the fragrance of all He is, like one bends to inhale the fragrance of a perfect luscious rose whose perfume fills the air with its beauty, and as we linger and inhale, we carry that beauty and memory through the rest of our day. In that moment, as we bend, focus, and enjoy, the rest of the world is effortlessly shut out as our hearts are drawn to focus only on what is perfect. Ahhh, no effort, just genuine heart response. Just Breathe . . .
Author
Dee:
Another beautiful word picture of how to relax … and I know how sweet your sleep is, and how God so often ministers to you in your sleep. <3
Beth, so glad you’re okay. My life feels like I’ve been living in revved up mode since this school year began. I’m trying to throttle it down and live in a more relaxed, rested mode. It’s not easy with all the things going on right now, but . . . I’m learning I must be intentional if I want a more relaxed lifestyle.
Author
Isn’t it funny, Jeanne, how we have to be intentional about our relaxation? 🙂
But it’s true. Sometimes I think we can become addicted to the revved up, adrenaline-driven lifestyle if we’re not careful.
Since I’m somewhat ADHD, revved up is a lifestyle for me. I have an abundance of energy usually and don’t always slow down. But lately I have and while I kind of enjoy it, I miss the high of being revved up. lol
Recently retired, I’m more in the relaxed mode. But I can still get busy with an elderly mother and a grandson to help keep. And my husband has a 93 yr old father he helps look after.
I love to read and sometimes I stress about my TBR pile that I need to finish and review. I also enjoy crocheting but with Christmas quickly approaching I have projects I want yo finish.
I need to take a deep breath.
When we get to camp in our RV, that’s when I can really relax!