Speeding trains don’t always reach their destination quicker.

Do you ever feel like you just want to get through this time of your life as quickly as possible because you are just done with it?

I know I have, especially as a kid. It seems like all you hear when you are young is “don’t do that” or “do this”. There is always someone older than you telling you what to do and you just want to be an adult so you no longer have to listen to anyone. You want the freedom to do whatever you want. But now that we are adults, we realize that that way of thinking was very flawed. No matter how old we get there is always someone or something over us telling us what to do. If you’re your own boss, you still have responsibilities that cause you to work hard and stay focused even if you don’t want to.

Traveling too fast isn’t always the best choice. Kids need time to learn and grow. Being thrown into large responsibilities too early can actually affect young kids on a psychological level that they will never be able to fix. They will never be able to get their youth or innocence back. Playing and spending time with other kids their age helps them learn valuable lessons and skills that will help them grow into healthy and mature adults.

I have personally seen it when kids are asked to be more “adultlike” before they are ready. They become like a shell that never can blossom into their own person or feel like they can enjoy life. They don’t know how to have fun or be themselves because they were never allowed to develop their own personalities. Why would we want to take that away from a precious child?

It is the same for adults, there are things that we need time with as well. If we speed through everything we too may lose a part of ourselves. There are always lessons to learn and grow from even as we get older in yours.

Depending on what type of train you are on speeds can range anything from 49 mph to the world record of 357.2 mph. Freight trains run at about 50 mph, long distance trains run at 50 – 55 mph,  and passenger trains run on average 60 mph. It is the speed trains in China that run at about 268 mph and that is an exception to the rule.

“Ok, so I am going to pick the speed train.” Well, it may sound like fun getting to places quickly, but the more speed means the more chances of accidents happening. Speeding train accidents are not unheard of.

One example of a speeding train going wrong was on June 3, 1998 in Germany. The train was on its way to Hamburg with 287 passengers. It was a beautiful, sunny summer day and most of the passengers were looking forward to spending a holiday away from home. But about 40 minutes away from their destination, their lives were changed forever. An unusual shaking began in the first car which turned into a separation of cars, running into a bridge, and the back cars jackknifing into each other, completely destroying the train. 101 people were killed and 100 were injured. It was reported that the train was travelling at 200 mph when 101 adults, children, and elderly were instantly killed. Even the rescuers said that they were not prepare or trained for anything like what they saw at this accident. The entire country was changed, and new regulations on train safety were implemented due to this accident.

So please reconsider speed over safety. We all need time to grow and understand where we are going or what we want to do in life. If you want to just get through whatever you are going through, instead of wishing to speed up the process, go to God. He knows exactly what you are going through and will protect you as your engineer until you are through that difficult time. 

Psalm 32:7 – Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.