When I was a child I loved going to my grandparent’s farm for extended stays! I played in the corn fields, rode the baler during hay season, walked the corral rails, climbed into and on top of the empty rail cars that were stored on a track near their house, and threw rocks through the cracks in the wooden bridge. Of all the memories that are precious, the one that stands out was driving the tractor. Grandpa would sit in the seat and let me sit in front of him. My legs weren’t long enough to reach the brakes or the clutch and I wouldn’t have known how to do that anyway. But I could hold on to that steering wheel and “drive”. Grandpa kept one finger on the wheel except for one time. He gave into my pleas and let me do all the steering. For about 30 seconds I thought I was in control. I was driving! Then a hole in the road caused me to jerk the wheel and before Grandpa had time to grab it out of my inexperienced hands we were leaning perilously in the ditch. I was scared to death but Grandpa made me get off the tractor in case it turned completely over and proceeded to get us out of my mess. I was the one who got us in the ditch but I was no help at all in getting us out.
How like God that is – sitting in the seat right behind me while I grab the wheel because I think I want to drive. Whether due to my own willfulness or my lack of wisdom and insight, I land myself in a ditch. Life just isn’t going to work the way it is supposed to unless I get out of the driver’s seat all together. Jeremiah tells the Lord in the book that bears his name (10:23) “I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” Moving out of the driver’s seat and into the passenger seat is a lesson in letting go of our own need for control. It isn’t easy and sometimes I just don’t want to do it. But the ride is better when I give the wheel to the One who knows the road, who knows the dangers ahead. May we let our prayer be “Jesus, take the wheel.”
Question for thought: What challenge am I facing right now that might have been avoided (or at least lessened) if I hadn’t insisted on being in the “driver’s seat”?
Pray with me: Holy Father, I see the mess I’ve made of things because I tried to do it my way. I want to surrender control of my life to you in (insert whatever) but I need your help in letting go.. Help me realize I just can’t go on without your help. It’s because of Jesus that I ask, Amen.
Showing posts with label Jesus Take the Wheel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus Take the Wheel. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Jesus Take the Wheel
Our annual ladies retreat is next month and the planning is in high gear. Our theme is "Jesus Take the Wheel: The Process of Changing Drivers". God has been bringing thoughts to my mind in the morning as I'm going to work. Here's what I thought about this morning:
Way back in the last century when I took Driver’s Ed it was an established part of the required High School curriculum. We spent the first part of the course in driving simulators. These were precursors to Wii! We sat in our simulators and ‘drove’ through all sorts of weather conditions, parking lots, and obstacle courses. When we managed to drive through our lessons without too many alarms sounding that you were doing something wrong (like killing a pedestrian or speeding in the parking lot), we were ready for the road. The DE cars looked like any car outwardly, but inside was one subtle difference. The passenger side of the car had been fitted with a brake pedal. Anyone who has tried teaching a hormone-charged teenager-who-knows-everything can appreciate the value of that little addition. It didn’t give the instructor the ability to do anything but STOP you. He didn’t have any control over where you stayed in the lane, how quickly or sharply you turned. He couldn’t help you parallel park, he couldn’t help you get out of someone’s way. But he could stop you if you were headed for a tree or at least slow you down before the inevitable crash.
One of the lessons God reminded me of when he brought all this to my memory was how similar that role is to the way I have “allowed” Jesus to drive my life. I would say that I was handing over control, but the reality was I was in the driver’s seat and just hoping that he would STOP me if I was headed for a tree. I’ve heard people pray “Lord, if what I am intending to do isn’t your will, then please defeat me.” That sounds an awful lot like “I’m going to take this course of action but if it turns out to be a big mess then, Lord, step in and take over. Stop it all before it’s a disaster, but let me go ahead and get us down that road because it’s where I want to drive.”
God is convicting me as I prepare for this year’s retreat to be the PASSENGER in the ride of my life. The trip won’t be what it could have been/should have been if I don’t hand over the wheel. The lesson will be much sweeter if I hand him the keys. I’ve learned the hard way He will take them from my clenched fist.
Jesus, take the wheel.
Way back in the last century when I took Driver’s Ed it was an established part of the required High School curriculum. We spent the first part of the course in driving simulators. These were precursors to Wii! We sat in our simulators and ‘drove’ through all sorts of weather conditions, parking lots, and obstacle courses. When we managed to drive through our lessons without too many alarms sounding that you were doing something wrong (like killing a pedestrian or speeding in the parking lot), we were ready for the road. The DE cars looked like any car outwardly, but inside was one subtle difference. The passenger side of the car had been fitted with a brake pedal. Anyone who has tried teaching a hormone-charged teenager-who-knows-everything can appreciate the value of that little addition. It didn’t give the instructor the ability to do anything but STOP you. He didn’t have any control over where you stayed in the lane, how quickly or sharply you turned. He couldn’t help you parallel park, he couldn’t help you get out of someone’s way. But he could stop you if you were headed for a tree or at least slow you down before the inevitable crash.
One of the lessons God reminded me of when he brought all this to my memory was how similar that role is to the way I have “allowed” Jesus to drive my life. I would say that I was handing over control, but the reality was I was in the driver’s seat and just hoping that he would STOP me if I was headed for a tree. I’ve heard people pray “Lord, if what I am intending to do isn’t your will, then please defeat me.” That sounds an awful lot like “I’m going to take this course of action but if it turns out to be a big mess then, Lord, step in and take over. Stop it all before it’s a disaster, but let me go ahead and get us down that road because it’s where I want to drive.”
God is convicting me as I prepare for this year’s retreat to be the PASSENGER in the ride of my life. The trip won’t be what it could have been/should have been if I don’t hand over the wheel. The lesson will be much sweeter if I hand him the keys. I’ve learned the hard way He will take them from my clenched fist.
Jesus, take the wheel.
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