I drove through a high school parking lot recently leaving a graduation ceremony.  My wife and I were trying to hurry to get out before the crowd.  The parking lot was full and we knew it would be a zoo trying to get out if we did not hurry.  As I was driving I was getting situated and talking to Connie when I noticed a speed bump coming.  I was not too concerned because these speed bumps are usually not too bad.  But as we got close we realized that this bump was different.  I hit the breaks to slow down but I still hit the bump too fast (5 mph was still too fast for this bump).  The jolt quickly reminded me to slow down because there were more bumps coming.  Going over the next three speed bumps provided us with the feeling we were on a slow moving amusement park ride designed for pre-schoolers.  There was a small jolt when the tires hit the leading edge of the bump and a little bounce when we went over.  My niece would have had a great time.  I can also about imagine that the high school students did not care for those bumps.  Slowing down is usually not fun (but needed).

Anyplace where it is important for people to slow down, speed bumps are installed; malls, schools, generally most parking lots.  When things get too fast, we risk hurting ourselves and others.  Speed bumps are meant to save us.

I wonder if speed bumps in life are designed for the same purpose (please excuse my "over-used" life analogy).  I don’t think there is a person alive who can say they have never encountered a speed bump in life (In case you missed the transition, I am talking metaphorically now).  We are going along quite nicely then something happens.  We hit a bump in the road (and it hurts) and we are forced to slow down and see what we hit.  Then we look ahead and see more bumps.  We get frustrated because we want to keep moving at our pace.  We don’t like opposition.  We want people to agree with us.  We don’t like starting over; we don’t like re-examining and we don’t like any interruption to flow of things.

Speed bumps are often discouraging.  When you hit them you may feel like giving up.  "If I can’t go as fast as I want, then I don’t want to be in the car".  "If people don’t get it, then forget about it."

Speed bumps sometimes cause damage, because if you hit any bump too fast damage will occur.  This may cause us to stop altogether and not get going again.  After all we don’t want to risk getting hurt.

But maybe we need these speed bumps in life.  When things are going along nicely in life we can easily forget about God.  "I don’t need help.  I am doing just fine."  We think we know the "right" way and get full of ourselves.  But speed bumps cause us to slow down (like a said before) and re-examine who really is in charge…and it is not us.  I have had times in my ministry here at Salem when I thought I could do no wrong.  I was cruising along just fine and then something happens.  Maybe a program falls through.  Somebody backs out.  I make a mistake.  All of a sudden the momentum stops and I am forced to figure out way.  I have not relied on God’s direction and guidance.  I tried to go too fast and rush things…faster than what was needed.  I tried to rely on my own wisdom (YES…I do have some wisdom).

Speed bumps slow us down, but they are not meant to stop us completely.  We need to be reminded that God is in control.  Speed bumps show us we need some help; that we need God.  So don’t get discouraged; don’t give up; but see speed bumps in life as God’s way of slowing us down to get a word in edge wise: "Don’t forget about me.  I know what you should do and how to do it.  Let me help."  God speaks and God acts for the good of creation; for the good of your life.  Slow down.  Listen.  And see the awesome power of God transform this world through you.  Amen! -EDH-