Back Seat Driver

I don’t like to admit it, but I am not a confident passenger when someone else is at the wheel. Aside from my husband, whose driving habits I have come to trust after 35 years of traveling the roads together, I tend to be a nervous Nellie. Our two daughters, who are both very competent drivers, can attest to this. Last week, I accompanied our youngest for a kijiji pick up. I found myself checking the side mirror whenever we had to decelerate quickly, watching for potential rear collisions. (In all fairness, I do that when I am driving too, after we were hit from behind a couple years ago!) And my right leg had a mind of its own when brake lights flared ahead, reaching out instinctively for a pedal that wasn’t there. My daughter’s comment at that point was, “Mom, you’re not in control of the vehicle!”

That comment stuck with me because it reminds me I’m not in control of the vehicle on a life level either. It’s not like I feel my life is careening down the mountainside from Whistler on a slushy evening in March (that’s another story!), but there are times I am very aware that I must wait on the Lord to reveal next steps, trusting His trip planning. The trick is to enjoy the ride when I’m not exactly sure what lies around the bend!

There have been several times in my life when I have felt that I am at a crossroads, with a big decision looming or an impending change ahead that looks rather fuzzy from a distance. I experience frustration, impatience, resentment and worry. Recently, I decided to create a visual to help me remember just who is in charge and what my own role actually is.

When I glance up from my writing, I see a yellow stickie note on the window frame. It bears a hastily sketched road construction sign. Next to it, I have a white hard hat with God’s name on it, since He is the architect and supervisor. Just below that is my own yellow hard hat. I am in the picture, too, but I am the laborer. This little doodle reminds me that in order to have contentment and peace as I await clarity, I need to do two things…

1. Let God do what only He can do. - guide, orchestrate, comfort, complete, encourage…

2. Get busy doing what only I can do - pray with an honest and open heart, research, prepare, stay focused on gratitude, trust...

I’m not in the driver’s seat. Most days, I’m not even riding shotgun! But I know and trust the driver and I have my own work to do on the journey.