Life Lessons While Driving

Am I the only one who experiences life-changing, perspective altering epiphanies while driving?

Just this morning, as I was merging onto I-81, I noticed there was a bit more traffic than usual. Now, I noticed this and slowed a bit on the on ramp, especially once I noticed the giant truck racing up the lane I wanted to merge into. The car in front of me, however, I don’t think was paid much attention to the road. Like AT ALL.

I don’t know about you, but when I’m driving I’m constantly looking around me, trying my best to ensure I, and whoever’s riding with me, stays safe (or at least as safe as I can ensure… which isn’t much). I’m convinced every other driver is an idiot and drive with that mentality. It keeps me aware. It sustains a certain level of discomfort. It helps me stay focused.

The driver in front of me was, well, one of those idiots.

So, here I am, slowing down, timing my entry right behind the truck. The car in front of me? This car didn’t slow down, didn’t stop, but instead maintained speed with the truck, not accelerating at a GREATER rate, but driving side-by-side. It’s a merge lane. It ends. Someone was going to lose. My bet was on the truck ending up victorious.

The truck won.

The car drove for a good 20-40 yards in the shoulder. Seriously?!? You couldn’t slow down and merge appropriately? What’s up with that? I envisioned the driver of this car throwing a tantrum and blaming the truck driver. I envisioned an overwhelming sense of frustration AND fear from nearly driving off the road.

Then it dawns on me… Nick, every day, no, every moment of every day we face so many CHOICES in this life. We go left. We go right. We go straight. We go backwards. We don't move (and just so you know, no decision is still making a decision, nothing is left to ‘chance’).

This driver was faced with a couple different choices and one had to made and it had to be made QUICKLY. That’s life! Life is nothing but a series of choices. He could’ve slowed down. He could’ve stopped. He could’ve managed his speed accordingly and merged without a problem. He could’ve sped up and passed the truck. And instead of making one these choices, he chose to maintain the same speed as the truck and nearly die.

That’s life.
That’s you.
That’s me.

Today, you could be facing the BIGGEST decision of your life and feel like you have no voice, no choice in the matter, but YOU DO! You ALWAYS have a choice! What will you do? How will you respond?

Reflect:

• What decision have you been putting off?
• What’s keeping you from making a decision?
• Will you trust God to help you through it?