Ergonomics Lesson
The root word of ergonomics is “ergon,” which is Greek for “work.” Some cars are built with poor ergonomics, that is, they seem to despise their parasitic human occupants. Others have excellent ergonomics, that is, they’re built with obvious regard for the effective effort of a human to make the car work (and work really really well). Notable examples include Gurney bubbles, the entirety of the original BMC Mini, and the 1938 Mercedes W154 racer that had its driveshaft angled slightly away from the centerline to allow space for the driver to sit even lower, for even better aerodynamic efficiency. And, of course, BMW’s canted engines.
BMW’s earliest motorcars allowed plenty of cabin space for drivers to move various controls around, but it wasn’t until BMW tilted the engines slightly off-center toward the passenger side – to compensate for the mass of the human in the driver’s seat – that its cars achieved optimum ergonomics between car and driver. The vehicle was now balanced laterally as well as longitudinally.
A car simply must allow room for its driver if it wants to work. God is inviting you to make similar arrangements for him.
The most famous prophecy announcing Jesus’ arrival includes some vivid space-clearing imagery:
“A voice of one calling: In the desert prepare the way for the lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:3-5)
Moments before Jesus’ arrival, John the Baptist echoed this prophecy and coupled it to a directive: repent. Clear your heart (and your schedule) because big change is coming. God wants to fill your heart with Jesus’ love and provision, your head with a new way of thinking about God and humanity, your eyes with compassion for the people he came to save, and your body with healing. Everything else must go.
Yet Isaiah also talked about a landscape that seems to change at Jesus’ arrival. The “rough” and “rugged” will be smoothed out, because any obstacle or discomfort now has a healer. Any problem now has a problem solver. The mountains will be leveled because whatever was once really important is now in the shadow of the monumental change Jesus brings. No geographical barrier is sufficient at keeping people separate, because when God’s glory shines, “all mankind together will see it.”
This two-part rearranging is happening in your life too. God asks you to rearrange your priorities to make room for getting to know him, learning how you have been uniquely crafted to serve God and help someone out, and simply praising him. Then, he flattens obstacles that keep you from him – or keep you from other Christ-followers – and makes a nice straight highway for pursuing him.
God can’t be limited by mountains, canyons, governments, corporations, jobs, addictions, a busy schedule, pay walls keeping you from accessing the heated seats in your leased BMW, or anything else. Yet he invites you to clear as much space for him as you can. Is it worth it? Think of ergonomics, and the effectiveness of his work in your life, and then think again if making a little space is worth the effort.
BMW launched its M2 Competition in early 2019 by giving a 40-horsepower boost (to 405) to the M2’s twin-turbo inline-six, along with plenty of other chassis tuning, all for a base price just under $60,000. The M Driver’s package cost $2,500 and raised the top speed from 155 (electronically limited ) to 174 (still electronically limited) and, crucially, included a day of driving school. BMW makes room for its drivers so they can work with their cars well.
