Long Lines at the Drive-Through

I’ve notice recently that many fast food places have longer lines at the drive-through than they do inside at the counter. Such is the case at the Dunkin’ Donuts I drive by every morning, with cars spilling out onto the road. I’ve seen the same at the local Chick-fil-a, Starbucks, and Wendy’s. It seems that many people either don’t want to make the effort to get out of their car or they are in such a hurry that they want to eat on the run. I for one, almost never go through a drive-through; I’d much rather go inside, see the counter-person face to face, and sit down to have my lunch or coffee. Even if I need to do take-out, I’d still rather go inside.

I tend to think that the drive-through is somewhat a symbol of the kind of culture in which we live. People living in other places around the world would never consider eating while driving in their cars, no less pick up their food in a drive-through line. The pace of their lives is such that it allows them to actually sit and enjoy their meal or their next sip of coffee.  Here, however, we want to keep moving—no time to stop and smell the roses…or coffee or nuggets! In our culture, we pat the person on the back who, when asked how they’re doing answers, “busy.” We applaud those who are constantly doing, striving, reaching—those who say, “I haven’t taken a vacation in years!”  That’s how we live our lives…until, we can’t do it anymore! 

Somehow, we’ve forgotten God’s word to his people at the start: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.  For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:8-11 – NIV) 

One thing I appreciate about the Sabbath-keeping Jews is their understanding and commitment to a day of rest. Although I might not buy into all the rules they have developed around the Sabbath, the principle by which they live is one that is rooted in Scripture and surely healthy for those who live by it. After all, God knew when he created us that we would need regular times of rest built into our schedule.  We all need space in our schedules to break away from the rush of our world, time to catch our breath, and to focus on the most important things in life—e.g.. our relationship with God and our relationships with one another.  We need times of worship, walks in the woods or on the beach, slow meals with our family and friends, and relaxed cups of coffee (or tea!). I think more than ever before, we need to find ways to keep a Sabbath. If not, we will find ourselves worn-out, burned-out, stressed-out, and unable to do the things we know we’ve been called to do. 

Let me encourage you today to make sure you are building times of rest (Sabbath rest) into your schedule. Take time to worship, to connect with the people around you, and to reflect upon your life.  You might even want to slow down enough to enjoy that next sip of coffee! 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris