Enjoy the Ride

 Since my husband, Bill, drove, I put my head back and closed my eyes. I felt tired. A day after doctors' appointments and errands, we left for yet another doctor’s appointment.

 I dozed. But every now and then I opened my eyes to enjoy the fields and trees zipping by. Basking in the warmth of the morning sun, I felt no responsibility. After all, Bill was behind the wheel. He steered and braked and stayed alert to other motorists. He certainly wanted to provide a safe ride for us. And a feeling of deep peace swept over me.

 As I enjoyed this unusual feeling of tranquility, I thought about my life. I am no more in charge of life than I am in charge of driving when I’m not behind the wheel. (Oh, sure, I “help” Bill drive from time to time, but he is an excellent driver. I trust him.)

 I then realized I should feel such peace about life in general. Yes, I am responsible to do what I can to contribute to a healthy, safe ride through the years. I can’t walk in front of trains and expect angels to protect me. But after I’ve taken care of myself, I can leave my trip, the rest of my days, in God’s hands and be at peace.

 If trouble jumps into my way, God has permitted it and will help me deal with it. I am not immune to accidents. I come in contact with germs, and I will suffer the vagaries of aging. In scripture, Solomon alerts us to what lies ahead: “Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work . . . ” (Ecclesiastes 12:3 NIV).

 While I don’t like to think about hands that shake and dentures, it’s true. No matter our ages now, we assume we’ve boarded a long trip. Unless we die young, we’re going to grow old. But while we are responsible to eat healthfully and to exercise, we can leave our journey in God’s hands. Psalm 139 reminds us God knows everything about us and plans our trip, down to the rest stops. His hand holds the steering wheel, and His strength supports us.

 “Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (Psalm 139:16).

 God shares responsibility with us about earthly matters, so we need not lose sleep worrying. We are not going to live forever. And neither are our loved ones. While we cooperate with God in making wise choices, our temporal future is also influenced by actions far beyond our control.

 As we ponder the day behind and look forward to the day ahead, we can feel as tranquil as I felt that morning as we drove through the countryside. God is behind the wheel.

 Something to think about: Are you trying to take the wheel of your life from God? What kind of bumps have you hit in the road? Are you in need of a rest stop? Are you enjoying the journey? Does your tank need spiritual fuel?

 (The photo shows Bill behind the wheel back in the day. We drove many happy, carefree miles in that 1957 Ford.)