Fuel Level is Low

I have often thought that one way to describe the seasons of our family's life is to think about the cars we drove at that time. When we were first married we had a 280Z; then we had a 280Z 2+2; then we moved through a series of sedans, and even a station wagon - a Volvo with the rear-facing seat in the very back.

From there we evolved into a series of suburbans, then we began downsizing into Jeep Cherokees as the children were no longer needing our taxi services. The cars we drive now only have room for grand-daughter's infants seats.

One of the cars we had in the earlier days had a voice warning system. The voice was an extremely annoying female voice - almost, but not quite, as annoying as the automated female voice that announced flight number boardings in the Sao Paulo airport (yes, in Brazil).

I can still hear that voice saying "Fuel Level is Low."

Our vehicles have elaborate warning signs built into the dashboard. They tell us when the engine needs to be serviced or when our fuel level is low. Usually, but not always, we pay attention to those warnings and attempt to address the issue before it becomes a crisis situation on the side of the road.

We need to develop and pay attention to the dashboard warnings in our lives as well.

One of my warning signs is my emotional state. When I am depleted, my emotions are at the surface, ready to spill over. Another sign is a deep sense of fatigue - a level of fatigue that one good night of sleep doesn't cure.

Over the years, I have learned to recognize these signs. But merely recognizing the signs isn't enough. I usually continued to keep driving (perhaps because I was driven) long after the voice had said "Fuel level is low."

A few weeks ago, Laura looked at the books on my nightstand and noticed a new one, Leading on Empty.

She said, "You needed that a year ago; you don't need it now."

She was right - as usual! - I don't need it now. But, because I survived (many times), I am acutely aware of these issues.

My primary goal for this season of my life is to invest myself in the lives of younger men and couples. I am extremely sensitive to the warning signs I see in their lives. I find myself being the voice saying "Fuel Level is Low" with the sincere desire to prevent them from experiencing a break down on the side of the road.

What are your warning signs?

When does "the voice" tell you that your fuel level is low?