An Idea about Gas Prices

The following is a copy of the Thomas Question email devotional. You can subscribe to the email edition from our website and tune into our podcast.

What causes stop and go traffic? You could call it the “multiplied tail light effect”. One person applies their brakes, then the next person (who’s traveling too quickly and following too closely) needs to apply their brakes aggressively. The person behind them (also traveling too quickly and following too closely) needs to apply their brakes even more aggressively and the lane comes to a halt. Now you have a stop and go traffic.

According to James Surowiecki in The Wisdom of Crowds, all of this would occur far less often if we simply slowed down and left a little more room between us and the car ahead. The flow of traffic would stabilize at a lower (but constant) speed, and we’d all move through choke points with far less aggravation. Which leads to a phrase I want to use: “if only”. “If only” we’d all slow down and back off, our world would be a much better place.

Now let’s allow ourselves a few more “if only’s”. If only we’d all switch to energy efficient light bulbs and turn a few of them off… If only we’d carpool, reduce, re-use and recycle… Just imagine. If only we could get one more hour of sleep… Imagine that…

And try this one for fun… Every once in a while, we get angry enough about the random, inexplicable nonsense of rising gas prices to organize a one day boycott. The problem is, we can’t do without the gas we didn’t buy. So the very next day, we go to the gas stations we boycotted and buy yesterday’s gas as well as today’s. All the while the oil executives giggle to themselves and think “Silly consumers! You’ll pay what I tell you to pay because you have nowhere else to go!” But if only we’d wake up just a little bit more and organize a slightly different kind of boycott. Let’s boycott one gas company for life and put them out of business. If only. Maybe then they’d listen!

There is a problem with “if only”, however, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed. “If only” just doesn’t happen very often. It’s because change – real, daily, sustained change – is tough. It’s so tough, in fact, that even the smallest things (like the one’s we’ve been talking about) lie just outside our collective grasp. If only…

So listen: real change occurs in small, gradual increments. Building a better world isn’t complicated, it’s just difficult. So be patient with yourself. You can be what you were made to be and you’ll get there over time. Just put one step in front of another and think of steps small enough that you can start taking them today.

Starting this Sunday, we’re spending the next several weeks looking for those things in life that represent “true beauty”. So what is beautiful? You can visit our website to see the new series intro video (it should be up in the next few days). And you can also contribute your own ideas, questions, comments, directions, opinions and suggestions. What do you think is beautiful? (just use info@askthequestion.ca).

I hope to see you there and I hope you bring someone with you.

Chris

LAST SUNDAY
The final segment in our series, “Church Exposed” searching for the “trigger” on our faith, our future and ancient Christianity. Tune into the podcast to catch up.

THIS SUNDAY
The first in our new series, “Beautiful”. Why should we care about “beauty” in the first place?

DO MORE THAN JUST CARE
Two Sundays ago, Rob and Tracy Dunham were with us to help lead in worship. They’re adopting a pair of siblings from over seas. There are few things more meaningful – and more Christ like – than to give someone else a chance at a whole other life. We contributed as a church and want to give you the chance as well. If you’d like to be involved, let us know (just use info@askthequestion.ca).