The Rev. Peter Truong of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Riviera Beach recently encouraged his parishioners to keep an eye out and be alert.

It's the message of Advent as found in the Gospel of Mark. Pastor Truong compared the lesson during the first week of the Advent season to being the driver in the car of our lives, noting that people must be alert while holding the wheel — for themselves as well as those traveling with them. He mentioned possible dangers such as road rage, high speed and drowsiness that could harm both the driver and passengers. 

"Traveling is a joy only when you give time for the journey," Truong said in the church's Nov. 28-29 bulletin. "Remember, time is reduced when velocity is increased."

The pastor reflected on a conversation he had with a few friends while traveling for a vacation in Mississippi. He was trying to stay awake and talk to his friend who was driving when that friend encouraged him to take a nap. Truong told his friend he needed to keep talking to him so that he could stay awake while behind the wheel, telling the driver that if he fell asleep he would wake up, but if the driver fell asleep none of them would awaken again.

Truong encouraged his parishioners to "stay awake and slow down" and not to spend their lives in the fast lane, especially amidst a world where people are always in a hurry.

"We are not saving time; we are actually losing it," Fr. Truong said. "Our lives are reduced by the speed. The more speedy, the more sleepy."

He said people need to "be alert" because no one knows when the Lord is coming, and if they are too busy traveling at high speeds they may not notice the Lord.