I’m often found sampling the great British tarmac on motorways across the country. Some of them feel more like car parks at times but given the choice I would probably prefer to drive in a morning traffic jam than I would on a late night empty road.
Dark roads, tired eyes and engaging late night radio ‘phone ins’ were all fine a few years ago but something has changed. I may start out ok as the adrenaline is still flowing from the previous meeting and my mind is captivated with gratefulness to God for impacting lives. But as the journey progresses and the clock on my dashboard creeps into the early hours of the morning, my eyes begin to feel sleepy.
My ‘sat nav’ reminds me that I have a further two hours of travel to complete before I creep into my sleepy home and I begin to think of some strategies that could hold back the onslaught of tiredness. I move a few dials on the heating system and the fans begin to throw cold air into my face – it has a momentary effect on me – I sit up straight in my seat and begin to focus clearly but quickly the windscreen begins to complain that it’s not getting enough warm air and refuses to remove its internal fog of condensation until I meet its need.
The heater is turned back on and compensated for by opening the driver’s door window. As the two temperatures battle it out, the monotony of unlit roads, the waning adrenaline and the fact that I’ve had too many early mornings and late nights begins to grip me once again. I’ll put some loud music on – I’ll sing along, who in the world has ever been able to sleep when loud music is being played. It works and as I look at the predicted length of the remainder of my journey I see I only have 1 hour and 55 minutes to go.
I notice that my singing is more of a slur now – maybe what I need is a stimulating news item on the radio. I scan through the channels and find something mildly interesting to engage my mind. I sit up straight in my seat once again and begin to think of the issues I am hearing. I’m moved by the sad stories, inspired by the heroes contained within but within seconds I feel my eye lids getting heavier and realise that I didn’t really hear any of the last few sentences.
‘Tiredness Kills’ I read – ‘take a break’. The next services are five miles away and I must stay focussed till I get there. I find a bag of sweets, bought earlier at the fuel station and begin to chew on them in the hope of an energy rush from the sugar. I feel a rumbling under the tyres as I realise I have verged too close to the hard shoulder – services only 2 miles to go.
I’ve never been so glad to indicate left and pull into the deserted car park of an overpriced facility. The sweets, cold air, radio debate and even the questionable practise of slapping myself in the face were unable to break the impending sleepiness. What next – should I lay my seat back and sleep for a little while? Should I purchase multiple shots of expresso? I conclude there is a time for everything – and right now it is time to sleep. I recline in my seat, close my eyes and lay there enjoying a quiet rest away from the stresses of driving.It may not be a late night drive for you – it may be the sluggish pace of your work in the office or dulled thinking in the classroom. You may feel like you’re not matching up to your own aspirations for being alert and sharp. God ordained that within the rhythm of our lives that there should be times when we pull over and take a break. We all need to have times when we withdraw from the stresses and strains and draw on Gods refreshing within our lives. Maybe that’s what you need right now.
After a 30 minute snooze in the car and a strong coffee I set out on the remainder of my journey, reinvigorated, ready and renewed for the next stage of my journey.
