I'm a teenager. I'm learning to drive. I have my permit, but I need to drive so that I will have enough experience and responsibility to be able to wield a license. At Fountainview, I'm not able to drive much around here. I haven't driven on-campus at all this year, in any vehicle! The only opportunities that I have to drive are the short trips that I have during home leave. Well, this past break, I had my opportunities.
The highway. Shuddering thoughts rush through my mind when I think of it when I'm driving. It's fast, unrelenting, risky, and...and...IT'S THE HIGHWAY!!! I didn't want to go on the highway. That's right. I didn't want to do it. One evening, after taking some senior pictures abroad, I was en route to home. Not remembering the way home, I had to rely on my parent's guidance. "Left. Go straight. Keep going straight. Turn right! Ok, we'll have to take the exit then." I was grateful for the GPS which was pronouncing instructions from the seat across from me. However, I was always on my guard to not be tricked into taking a highway on-ramp. I was very careful about that. But for one short moment, I let my guard down-just as we were approaching a highway intersection.
"Take a right here." Says the voice to the right to me. Not looking or thinking as much as I should have, I signaled into the right lane and turned onto a ramp. After blinking a couple times, my heart sank. It was the highway on-ramp! Instantly my blood began to rush, I began frantically searchig my memory for all the rules and tips that I had learned during driver's education. "What do I do!" I cried desperately. Within a couple seconds my parents guided me to merge into the highway and then everything seemed to quiet down. The scariest part was over, but, I was going so fast! Cars were passing me on the left, I was passing cars on the left, two trucks were merging ahead of me, headlights shone in my eyes, it was hectic. But I was going forward: I didn't have to change my lane position any more. Trying to relax, I re-positioned myself in my seat and adjusted my grip on the steering wheel. After a couple minutes of highway time, I had reached my exit. It was over. Whew! I had done it! It wasn't all that bad! Deep inside, I thought it was fun. Yet, I seemed foolish, like a child, not wanting to take his first steps. I was ashamed to know that I had not yet learned everything about adulthood, perseverance, and confidence.
It reminded me of an experience that I had with my youngest brother, Christopher, many years ago. My family had gone on a vacation to the Wisconsin Dells (The largest waterpark resorts in the world). I was ecstatic! I couldn't wait to go on the water slides! For the first couple days, we went to a "big boy park", with large, fast slides and high water flow. But, one of the days we went a kiddie park, with small fountains, slides, and pools. Christopher didn't want to go on the slide. He was really scared of it. After spending some time telling him just how fun and amazing water slides are, he still didn't want to go. Getting rather impatient, I picked him up and started carrying him up the couple stairs to the top of the tiny slide. Crying, and crying, he certainly voiced his opinion, but I was sure that he would enjoy it. Resisting me all he could, I set him on the slide and pushed him down. The water pushed him forward and slowly propelled him around the single turn and onto the mat on the bottom. I wondered what his response would be. Without looking at me, he rushed to the top of the slide again and exclaimed just how fun it was! He continued sliding down the slides at the park for the remainder of the day.
Sometimes God asks big things of us, and we blow it waaaaaay out of proportion. Yet, God says that all will be 'ok' and that it will far worth it. Many times I hesitate at these moments, as if I need to make a difficult choice. But, if I remember how God has led me in the past, there really shouldn't be much decision time. What His will is, is best. Deep inside, I don't want to resist going on whatever highway God puts me on, but somehow, my sinful self gets in the way. I need to learn to trust God in everything, no matter what the circumstantial. Why don't you pray that God would reveal His love to you today? Why don't you ask Him to make His will known to you, so that you will have the challenge of driving on the highway. But don't worry, God is seated right next to you, directing and guiding you every step of the way. :)
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