Ric Pawloski is the executive director of the Ferry Street Resource Center in Niles. He can be reached at directorfsrc@gmail.com.

As I was driving to work one day, I was thinking about the frantic pace of life with all the things that I must keep straight without forgetting anything or missing an important appointment. I looked down to make sure my speed was appropriate, and for some reason, the buttons for the cruise control on my steering wheel stood out to me. They read, “RES,” “SET” and “CST.”  I began to think about which of the modes was I in?

If I am in cruise control mode, I have no control of my speed until I hit the brakes. I don’t know about you, but I rarely use the cruise control unless I am at highway speeds. This requires acceleration and using the “set” button. Now my speed is set and constant. My hope is that I don’t need to vary my speed and I can just cruise to my destination. Inevitably, however, someone or something will get in the way and then I must hit the brakes which disengages my cruise control. This is often annoying as I can’t understand why anyone would want to slow my progress unnecessarily. The good news is that it is easy to hit the “resume” button to accelerate to my intended destination. 

I realized as I thought about this process that I rarely, if ever, use the “coast” button. It also occurred to me that perhaps this is the button I need to become more familiar with. With all the technological tools available to us today, I am always connected to my email, my text messages, my calendar, Facebook, LinkedIn and many, many more. I can add things to my calendar just using my voice and others can send me invitations to add even more to my calendar. Before you know it, I am on cruise control again and missing many things that pass me by that I should hit “coast” for.

I am resolved to try and hit the “coast” button a little more and the “resume” button less. Perhaps even better is to never “set” cruise control for my life at all. I need to be mindful of my speed, varying it as required so as not to miss birthdays, anniversaries, a gentle rainstorm, the inherent beauty of nature, a small still voice from God, time with kids, time with parents and time with friends. Just time.

Are you on cruise control for a large portion of your travels through life? Do you find yourself feeling like these tools we have at our disposal are keeping you organized and yet you are missing that quiet time with your husband or wife? Did you miss the sunset yesterday that everyone said was so gorgeous? Try hitting the “coast” button more often. In James 4:13,14 it says, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” Come out of the mist and enjoy today.