Who’s Driving?

 

A while back Gus, a good friend of mine, told me a joke on himself. He grew up on a farm in North Dakota, his wife, Kathy, grew up in Los Angeles, California. She doesn’t think much of his city driving. On a trip to the city, Gus pulled the car over a short distance from town. He walked around the car and opened Kathy’s door and said, “Scoot over Honey.” “What’s this?” she asked. Gus answered, “No sense both of us driving.” I laughed of course, but didn’t think much more of it.A few weeks later I was struggling with the impression that God wanted me to begin attending a 12 Steps group called LDS ARP (Latter-day Saints Addiction Recovery Program). I didn’t want to go. I was in recovery, why did I need more help? I had participated in such a group online and hadn’t had a good experience. Members of the online group were far from careful about what they shared and more often than not they had triggered, rather than hampered my addiction. I feared the same problem with a live group. Additionally, I didn’t really want to expose my problem to any more people than I had to. I was afraid to go.

At the time of this quandary, I was reworking the 12 Steps. I was on Step 11, which encourages constant conscious contact with God. That very morning I had made up my mind, even declared to God in my prayers, that in order to maintain that conscious contact I would pay attention and be obedient to God’s instructions. Now, I was fully ready to re neg on my promise.

I went to God in prayer and explained why I was not prepared to comply with His wishes. I was pretty detailed and determined, but I felt no relief from His invitation to comply with His request. I went the rounds with the issue over and over again. I was determined to get my way and was so very hopeful that God would relent. He didn’t, in fact, cut me any slack. I was certain of this within my own heart. Finally, as I stubbornly persisted in my position, God spoke to me in language I could understand. In my heart, I heard these words, “No sense both of us driving.”

It was an epiphany that took me with such a sudden and complete paradigm shift that a cold glass of water over the shower door couldn’t have been more shocking.

Anyone who has ever driven knows what happens when a backseat driver begins criticising and correcting his driving. First it hurts, then embitters and often an abrasive altercation results. When Gus anticipated this, he arranged for he and Kathy to have a more relaxing, harmonious journey through the city. Had he stubbornly clung to the wheel and control, harmony may not have been the case.

I didn’t have to analyze all this to come to the conclusion I’ve just described. The realization was instant. If I insist on keeping control of my life, God will certainly prompt me through my conscience to do things differently. Being human I will most likely get my hackles up and push him away. Our relationship will suffer and I will inevitably make mistakes, probably even crash and burn.

On the other hand, if I let God take control, I can just relax and enjoy the ride. Is my Heavenly Father a better driver, through life, than I am? Of course he is. Will he ever take on paths that are not beneficial to my experience here on earth? No way, will he do that. I believe in Him and I finally have come to willingly decide for myself to trust Him.

Have I done this perfectly? Not a chance. There have since been moments when I got scared and grabbed the wheel back. These have all, though, been moments when it has become clear that such a move was foolish and ultimately detrimental to my progress.

I went to the meeting. I’ve been going ever since. I feel quite certain that I wouldn’t be sober today without regular attendance. God knew what was best for me. I’m so glad I let Him drive.

 Take Action:

Ask yourself, “Who is driving in my life?”  “Do I trust God enough to let him drive?”  “What are the advantages of giving God the wheel?”  “What prompts me to grab the wheel?”  “Where would God take me today, if I let Him?” 

Borrowed from Candleman’s Peek Into The Universe.