Let Someone Else Drive

03/03/2007

It finally happened! I can no longer tease so many of my friends about being old; because I am now officially old also…I turned 50! To some, this may not be old, but flipping that calendar page over to a new decade certainly reminds us that time is moving on, and we’re moving right along with it. My kids gave me the most awesome book of pictures from my life to remind me of this, and since I have always been a picture-taking fool, there was no more perfect gift to give this mom. They had to go through 28 photo albums, plus almost four years of digital shots, to accomplish this special collection of memories…I feel very loved!

To celebrate this occasion, my sister made me a delicious cake that was a two-tiered chocolate extravaganza, and my husband also surprised me with a limo ride! We had plans to drive about an hour south to a German restaurant for dinner and instead of being separated into different cars and forging the roads on this rainy night through commuter traffic, we climbed into a limo instead. There’s just something about riding in a limo that can put the cherry on top of any evening out. I don’t know why that is for sure, but in thinking about it this morning, maybe it’s just because it’s such a treat to leave the driving to someone else. Maybe there is a sense of relief that comes when someone else has to know the way, has to fight the traffic, and has to shoulder the responsibility of concentrating on the road while as passengers we are able to just enjoy the company of those we are with.

I didn’t want a party for my birthday. Call me a party pooper, if you will, but it was not my first choice. I love people, I love to spend time with people, I love talking with people, but what I love most of all is the intimacy of being one-on-one with people--and with a party, that can be hard to do, so I chose to have a quieter birthday, and it was good…it was so good, that it’s been a month-long celebration! God is fun!

My best friend from Florida also flew out to spend some time with me, and she joined Jim and me and a few family members as we climbed into the limo, feeling like royalty. It didn’t matter that the drive was long, that the roads were wet or that most people were making their way home from work…we were able to enjoy the journey, as we let someone else drive us to our destination and back home again.

Isn’t that what God wants to do for all of us? He wants us to let Him do the driving. In reading Luke 19 this morning, it says that Jesus “…began to cry” as He came closer to Jerusalem. He said, “I wish that even today you would find the way of peace.” And further on down in verse 44b, He said, “…you have rejected the opportunity God offered you.” God is offering us so much, and so many times we reject it. We reject His Son, we reject His helping hand, we reject His way of peace, we reject all that He is offering to us because we’re in the driver’s seat too much of the time. We forget how good it feels to just sit back and relax and leave the responsibility for where we’re going and how we’re going to get there to Him. We all need those burdens lifted in our lives, but sometimes we just don’t know where or how to find that help…

God offers “load-lifters” to us in many ways. In marriage it can be through our spouse as we each do what we are designed to do to work together in a partnership. There is no specific design to this, it really depends a lot on what works for each individual couple. Many years ago when our children were small, I liked to do the yard work, and Jim liked to cook. So, come the weekend, he would watch the little ones and prepare dinner, while I trimmed the bushes and cut the lawn. For me, it was a break from the responsibility of chasing toddlers all week, and for him, it was a chance to play in the kitchen instead of working on computers. We both felt refreshed, even in the work that needed doing. We had found the way of peace as we worked together.

Just this week, I ventured into the city of San Francisco once again with a friend who is battling some serious health issues. It’s a long trip for her, coming from the Central Valley of California, to the coast for treatment. I met her at the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station, and made the rest of her journey with her into the city and back. It can be a confusing trip if you’ve never done it--getting a BART ticket, boarding the right train, knowing which stop to get off at, getting a transfer, exiting the BART area into the MUNI area, catching the N-line to the hospital, and finding the way from that point to the doctor’s office. I know it can be confusing because the first time I attempted it, I ended up taking the wrong bus and being dumped off over twenty blocks from the hospital. You may have read about that trek through the city in one of my messages…it was quite a walk, but I made it! LINK TO MESSAGE

My friend never could have walked those 20-plus blocks in her condition. She needed someone else in the driver’s seat that knew the way so she could arrive exactly at her destination with as few steps as possible. She arrived safely because she “let me drive” on this day. She seemed happy to do so. She knew that once we met up at the BART station, she was no longer responsible for the journey she was on. She knew I would get her where she needed to be, and through that she had found the way of peace by resting in me.

Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have died.
I cried out, “I’m slipping!” and your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Psalm 94:17-19 (NLT)

God works in many different ways in our lives, and He uses all different methods of helping us through each day. Many times He will use the people around us to support and encourage us along the way. My friend was exhausted on this day as we visited the heart and lung clinic at UCSF. She is in need of a double-lung transplant and the wait has been long. She too, just recently turned 50, and these are difficult days for her. Doubts can fill her mind and she needs God’s comfort and renewed hope and cheer to face this battle. Sometimes she just needs someone to hold her BART ticket for her, to hand it to her when it is needed, and to take it back for safe keeping until it is needed again. Sometimes she just needs someone to help her on and off with her coat just because one less struggle is one less struggle right now. Sometimes, she just needs someone to listen to her heart about how she may not get to go on a cruise before she dies…and to remind her that once in Heaven, no earthly cruise will compare to the glory that will surround her.

God’s glory truly surrounds us each day if we will open our eyes to it. It is in the beauty of this earth, and it is in the people God brings into our lives and the care He provides through those around us. As the body of Christ on this earth, we are God’s hands, His feet, His voice and His love to those we come into contact with. Sometimes we are the driver that He uses to help another, sometimes we are the one to be driven, but either way, we need never feel alone when our heart is open to the way of peace that has been provided for us.

My mom just called to chat a bit. She asked what I was doing, and I told her I was writing. We talked of many things, and in our conversation she told me of the difficulties she faces every day because of caring for my dad who has had Parkinson’s for over 10 years. My dad is just as sweet as can be, but he is unable to do many things he was once capable of. The responsibility of most things now rests with my mom, and sometimes she gets tired. During our conversation, she talked of the places they go and the things they are doing and how my dad can no longer drive, and she then said, “It would be so nice to let someone else drive for a change.” I had to laugh. I said, “Mom, that’s the title to the very thing I am writing right now--how in this life we are to let God be the driver, and rest in Him.” What perfect timing to be having this conversation with her. She gets tired of always being the one in the lead, of always being the one to make the decisions, to decide whether they will go, or stay home and rest, depending on my dad’s condition. She says most days; he really doesn’t know what’s on the schedule, and whether they are missing out on something or not. They were to be out and about today, but he is not doing well, so they are spending the day at home. He has no idea there were any plans made, and perhaps that is a good thing. He is at peace letting my mom “drive” their lives right now. He can rest in her, and her responsibility then is to rest in God. As the “driver,” if we won’t rest in God, the burdens will become too great…

There are different kinds of service in the church,
but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are
different ways God works in our lives, but it is the
same God who does the work through all of us.
1 Corinthians 12:5 (NLT)

We never know what each day will bring, but we can know that there are needs to be met along the way, and we should be watching for them. I heard a preacher say recently that if we will simply listen to those around us, eventually they will tell us what they need.

Meeting another person’s needs is not a one-way street. Most times, God blesses the person meeting the need in an even greater way than the person whose need is being met. It is so hard for us to accept help from others because we are such a proud people--I know, because I have an extremely hard time accepting help from anyone. Jim gets after me because I won’t ask him for his help, I’ll always try to do it myself first and ask only out of desperation…I’m working on accepting help but it will be a lifelong process. But, what God is teaching me through that is that when I will not accept help from others, I rob them of their blessing also. Looking at it that way does make it easier to rely on others a bit more.

When our son was facing his last days on this earth, and he wasn’t even up to putting his glasses on, let alone reading anything, we would sit by his bed and read the Bible to him. It brought him great comfort, and he even voiced that he wished he had read the Bible more. I have always held in my mind from that point on that if I were ever in that position of helplessness, I would want others to come to my bedside and read God’s Word to me for strength and comfort. Most times we are not able to visit with those who come to see us when we are very ill, but after seeing the miracle workings through the power of God’s Word during those times with our son, I knew how helpful they were.

Well, I wasn’t dying, but I was sick just recently, and I got to experience a bit of what Phil did as I read to him. With the flu bug that is going around, more than one actually, I ended up with a feverish night and a morning of complete exhaustion afterwards. It was during a short get-away with my friend from Florida, and when we are together we like to start our mornings out with some quiet time. She’ll usually share a Bible study that she is working through from home, or I’ll be reading through some devotional, or we’ll spend time in prayer or listening to some worship music. On this particular morning, I asked her if she would read to me…I was flat out and not able to do much. It was a neat experience to just be still and have someone share God’s word so I could just close my eyes and picture that part of Scripture. She began in the book of Daniel, one of her favorite stories, and she read of the blazing furnace and how three bound men were thrown in but four men were seen walking around inside the flames. What a picture that brings to one’s mind when it is being listened to. It said that God, “…sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him.” (Daniel 3:28 NLT)

My “angel” on this morning was my best friend, who loves the Lord with all her heart and was willing to minister to me when I was down and out. Not only that, when we got in the car to drive back home after our short get-away, I let her drive!! And boy did I need it, as I was plastered to the seat, just thankful to be able to sit there and relax while she fought the traffic and shouldered the responsibility of making our way back home.

God provides.
God knows our needs ahead of time.
God sends His angels to rescue.

The question is, will we welcome these blessings into our lives and accept what is being offered from our Lord? He wants to help us, He really does, but we have such a hard time receiving the gifts He has for us along the way.

“There is no other god who can rescue like this!”
Daniel 3:29 (NLT)

See the little “g” there? Even the Bible speaks of other gods, because there are other gods. There are many things, persons, and idols that people worship besides the one true God, with a capital “G.” The Bible is clear on that, but it is also clear on who the Most High God is. It says, “How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.” (Daniel 4:3 NLT)

We can get distracted on the way through this life and forget who should be in the Driver’s Seat. That Seat belongs to the Most High God of Heaven and Earth. We can argue the point, we can take the seat back, or place other gods there, or refuse what God is offering to us, but we will be the one to lose out in the end. It would be like showing up at my birthday celebration and seeing the surprise limo that had been provided and arguing against riding in it—making the decision that I would rather drive my own car, through the rain and the dark of night to a place I wasn’t sure the location of, and feeling the stress of the situation from start to finish. Where is the peace and the pleasure and the joy in that? Can the trip be accomplished? Of course it can, we do it every day! And yes, there are times when we are the one behind the wheel of our actual car because in this life, unless we’re the president or just very rich, we don’t get chauffeured around in a limo every day--but what we’re talking about here is God’s offer to “drive” us every day we live--His offer to help us through this life, to hand us our “BART” ticket and lead the way to our doctor’s appointment through someone who has been there, to be able to listen to His Word being read by a friend when we’re down and out, to provide a spouse to care for us in our old age, to send transportation that is unexpected just because He loves us so much that He wants to see us smile!

God is good to His children!!!
Are we willing to receive all that Jesus already gave us?
Are we willing to follow after Him like a child who doesn’t have to be concerned about the way to go because we’re holding onto our Father’s hand?
Are we willing to relinquish the control of the paths we are on and let the power of the Holy Spirit drive us through this maze of life that so easily confuses and hurts us?

In John 6:16 it says, “That evening his disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back, they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum.” It wasn’t long and a huge gale swept down on them, and suddenly they saw Jesus “walking on the water toward the boat.” The disciples headed out across the lake without their Pilot, without their Driver. They didn’t wait for Jesus, and they got into trouble--but once again, they were rescued by the Most High God. Jesus called out to them, “’I am here! Don’t be afraid.’ Then they were eager to let him in, and immediately the boat arrived at their destination!” John 6:20 (NLT) (Italics mine)

We need to wait for our Driver, to trust Him with all our heart, to rest in His loving care, to accept His help from those we meet along life’s road, and to be His helping hand to others when their needs become evident to us. Even though the journey can seem more than difficult, God’s plan is perfect to see us through all the ups and downs when we eagerly let Him into our lives.

I could get used to having a limo drive me around…that wouldn’t be hard at all. Just pick up the phone from anywhere, call for my personal driver, and wait to see that long sleek vehicle pull up to where I am to take me to where I need to go. Ahhh, yes, that wouldn’t be a problem at all.

The challenge comes when God asks the same of us…to call on Him as we move through this life from point A to point B. To look for Him in all His grandeur as He appears on the scene of our lives. To stand in awe and wonderment at how He works through every situation. To climb into His lap and rest in His arms, and let Him take us where we need to go.

As God’s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God’s
great kindness. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day
of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now.
2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NLT)

Amen! (Let it be so)
Diane