Engage the Brain

(Proverbs 5:13 KJV)  And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

Every once in awhile when I am deep in thought and driving I will suddenly become aware that I have not been aware.  Others have shared the same experience.  The car is staying in its lane.  If someone stepped out in front of you, you would hit the brakes.  Suddenly you become aware that you have not been paying attention.  You have been on auto-pilot.  I don’t know how dangerous this is.  We can do a lot through habit.  I still find it disturbing.

I have had the same experience in church.  I have had it reading a book.  I become aware that I am going through the motions but my mind is not engaged.  In our Proverbs passage the listener seems to be waking up.  He is aware of the problem.  It doesn’t say what the stimulus is.  It doesn’t say what he did about it.  It is a warning to us.

So?  This is relatively gentle.  Life could deliver a much more serious wake up call.  I need to ask myself, “Am I paying attention?”  God is speaking and He doesn’t like to waste His breath.