My wife and I headed for Mansfield on Saturday. Planning on spending an enjoyable day at a matinee and browse through our favorite bookstore, we settled in for some good conversation on the drive. As we headed south out of town I glanced down at the dashboard and noted we were "Running on Empty."

I admit the lyrics to Jackson Browne Hit from my teen years ran through my mind.

Running on, running on empty

It's interesting how long I'm willing to let the car run on empty. The warning light wasn't on yet, though I expected it to come on at any time. On the country roads we were taking there were few gas stations along our route. The few that we would come across would likely be higher in price that those in Mansfield, so I determined to just keep (sing it with me) "Running on, running on empty."

In order to just keep running on empty I had to put a few significant possibilities out of my mind.

Running out of Gas was a distinct possibility. The consequences of Running out of Gas would be significant. Not only would there be the loss of time, but I could find myself walking to a gas station in the cold and rain. But it was only 35 miles to Mansfield, so why not just press on.

It's interesting how much running on empty consumed my thoughts as we traveled. Every few miles I looked at the gauge. Still no warning light. We had to be just about on fumes. But even as I came upon gas stations, I ignored the empty gauge and kept driving.

Thinking about it this morning as I sat in the window at the coffee house I realized how easy it had been to ignore the emptiness. I was aware of it. I know there could be consequences, but I just pressed on. Sometimes I realized how much I can be like that spiritually "Running on Empty." Ignoring the emptiness that has crept into my life, I just keep pressing on as though it didn't matter. Sure I know there are possible consequences when we run on empty. But it's too easy to ignore them.

Consequences like:
I get more impatient
I lack compassion
I'm more vulnerable to temptation
I begin to act like I'm entitled to special favor
I'm cynical
I'm critical
I'm disobedient, distant from God
Running on empty is a problem maybe a big problem waiting to happen.

Been running on empty lately? Just hoping that you don't experience problems?

This leader has been reminded once again how important it is to avoid "Running on Empty."

Jackson Browne penned it this way.
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on
Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Paul said it this way.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

How are you running this week?