Who's Driving?

Life can be so utterly confusing sometimes! I remember when I was growing up, I would watch my parents intently as either one or the other would be driving me somewhere. I kept thinking to myself, "It doesn't look that hard, I wonder why they say kids can't drive." The first time I got behind the wheel of a car, that misinformed childhood notion was quickly dispelled. I grew up in a country where most people drove manual transmission cars. It never occurred to me that, shifting the gears, engaging the clutch to shift the gears, accelerating, steering the vehicle, watching for traffic, applying the right amount of pressure on the brakes at the right time... all required major coordination and concentration. Fortunately for me, my very wise (and patient) mother, recognizing that my childish insistence that I could drive was merely empty machinations, allowed me behind the wheel in a vast open parking lot where I could do no damage (except to my pride).

Did I mention that I was 9 years old when all this happened? I quickly learned to be truly grateful for my parents who would shuttle me anywhere I needed to go, instead of trusting me to drive myself there (we won't get into the issue of needing a driver's license). Anyway, I was reminded of that event because of something I read this morning:

"Christ did not give you a car and tell you to push it. He didn't even give you a car and tell you to drive it. You know what He did? He threw open the passenger door, invited you to take a seat, and told you to buckle up for the adventure of your life. Don't let stumbles stop you. Come and keep coming. Drink and keep drinking. Ask and keep asking."

- Max Lucado

So what's the point of the story? It's simply this: Real life often lulls you into the misguided notion that living successfully is easy to do. All you have to do is make a few right decisions here and there, right? Well, you quickly discover the fallacy of that notion (just like I did about driving a car the first time I got behind the wheel), when you have to contend with all that life throws at you, all at once. Wise men and women have discovered that the only way to navigate through life successfully is to get into the "passenger" seat, buckle up, and prepare for the "roller coaster ride of life." Have a great weekend, and enjoy the ride!