A Pastor’s Perspective
By Sharon Latour
Those of you who have been reading this column awhile have probably noticed I really, really like our independent spirit in this neck of the woods. I like the can-do, practical approach to problem solving, and the expectation that the community will come together when a crisis shows up to challenge our mettle.
By community crisis, we usually mean a shared dramatic calamity like a hurricane or tornado or, for us, earthquakes and rivers rising. If you are having trouble meeting your bills, well, you’re on your own. Which is why I’d like to talk about this gradually worsening situation that we could impact if we decide to.
I just returned from 10 days of car and plane travel to San Jose, Sacramento, and Colorado Springs. About three weeks ago I decided to self-impose a 55-58 MPH limit on my freeway driving to Eureka. I remember my reaction when I did the math on the first tank of gas where I had reduced my speed by 15 miles an hour: 31 Miles Per Gallon!
My 2003 Honda CR-V had been getting about 26 MPG on the freeway. So I really couldn’t believe it when I saw the calculation. So on my most recent trip, I allowed an extra 30
Not satisfied with what seemed to be too good to be true, I did the same from San Jose to Rocklin (suburb of Sacramento), and got 32 MPG again. But hold onto your hats.
By planning to arrive 20 minutes later than what going 72 MPH (Yes, I admit to playing the margins with going “just a little” beyond the 65 MPH speed limit.) would have gotten me, I saw, once again, that I had gotten 32 MPG.
But let me tell you something really strange. The trip itself was so much more relaxing, and as I noticed the speedier cars on the route I went, there were enough construction and two-lane slow-downs to even out the faster guy’s progress with mine.
I saw a few of them again: either just ahead of me, or pulled over by the CHPs. The speedy guys just didn’t make that much progress over my 58-60 MPH average. And I was getting 32 MPG instead of 26 MPG.
The savings really added up over a 500-mile trip, and as I mentioned, I had such a relaxing time. When I sped up to pass a line of diesel smoke-spewing trucks, I remember not enjoying the extra speed. I instantly missed the ease of sub-60 living.
The big news item in both The Bay Area and Colorado seemed to be about going past the four dollar-a-gallon fuel price. Well, we know all about that already. But when I drove into Garberville and saw where our local station’s costs had gone while I was away, I knew I needed to pass on my new attempt at not getting too angry about what we can only call Voodoo Fuel Cost Rising.
When I first tried going 58 MPH to Eureka, it added 15 minutes to my trip. Instead of an hour from Garberville to the K-Mart store (where you first have to go 40 MPH after the freeway to Eureka), it took me an hour and 15 minutes.
And I noticed our rivers and trees and relaxed all the way.
I am well aware we are not the best at allowing “extra” time like that in our schedules. Americans are probably the busiest people on earth. So, instead of seeing the time it takes to go 58 or even 60 MPH instead of 70 or 72 as “taking extra time,” perhaps we can agree to see it as an investment in our “quality of life.”
So what do you get from that? Peace-filled calm on the road and extra fuel in your tank; a sense of restored independence and care for the wider community and environment. And what do you give up? Well, I can’t think of a single, worthwhile thing. So, what do you think?
Shalom!
(Note for Friday Night Youth high schoolers and volunteers: We’ll plan to watch a film Friday at 6 pm, after dinner at 5:30, at the Community Presbyterian Church in Garberville.)
Sharon is pastor of the Garberville Community Presbyterian Church. Services are open to all on Sundays at 11 am. Comments or questions should be addressed to: Dr. Sharon Latour, c/o A Pastor’s Perspective P.O. Box 65, Garberville, CA 95542. (707) 923-3295.
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