Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. Exodus 23:2

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The other day, while driving on the highway, I got pulled into the air stream coming off of a tractor trailer truck. It’s that wind tunnel that makes your car shimmy and sway, as if you’ve lost control and it determines where you go. I’ve found the only way to get out of those is to slow down, put enough distance between the truck and my car, and then switch lanes.

As I think about the changes I want to make in the new year, I’m thinking the same strategy applies.

Since the Pandemic, I’ve fallen into some pretty lazy and self-indulgent habaits. I’ve been trying to break those patterns ever since with no success.

I’m now realizing that what I expose myself to greatly effects my mood, motivation and momentum. It happens in subtle ways, but the impact is strong nonetheless. Just like that tractor trailer air stream, my behavior and my attitude are being pulled in directions I don’t like or want.

As much as these vices may bring me fleeting pleasure, I need to slow down, put some distance between them and myself, and switch lanes. I need to find new things to follow – ones that completely align with who I want to be and how I want to live my life.

I can’t say I know for certain what those things are. But I have gotten better at determining what they aren’t. As I use self-discipline to pull back and switch lanes, I’ll have to lean into prayer for guidance on who and what to follow to get me to where I want to be.

Questions for Reflection:

• Have I gotten pulled into some bad patterns of behavior?
• How can I put some distance between them and myself so I can switch lanes and follow what will lead me to where I want to be?