Holy Highways

I will do almost anything to avoid driving on the interstate, particularly I-80. I find myself grabbing onto the wheel with such force that my knuckles are white, my hands are sweaty and my shoulders are tense: I am afraid for my life! I have to turn off the radio and tell my somewhat nervous passenger to hold the conversation so that I can concentrate on what's going on around me. I'm particularly uncomfortable when semis pass me at breakneck speed, although it probably only seems that way because I don't like driving the speed limit of 70 miles per hour!

When I find myself in the right-hand lane when other drivers are trying to merge onto the freeway, it leaves me in a near state of panic if I can't change lanes to accommodated them. But the worst is this: the nasty interchange where I-80, I-380 and Highway 218 come together. One vehicle is flying down west-bound ramp while another is trying to get up the southbound ramp. The tricky part is that they have to perform this maneuver by crossing over in one lane. I usually end up stopping until I can get where I want to be. And yes, I know that I am an accident waiting to happen! Indeed, I do approach the freeway with great fear and trepidation, although some might say that I drive with too much caution!

At times, it may seem as though Jesus is testing our confidence as we drive down that holy highway, however, we can be certain that his invitation to grab onto the wheel of faith is always there. We won't have to worry about our white knuckles or sweaty palms, for he won't let our hands slip off of that holy wheel even as we go flying down the ramp of sin. We can be sure that he will protect us from that worldly accident waiting to happen so that we can cross over to the ramp of repentance remembering that we don't have to travel at breakneck speed to attain the kingdom of God. But we'd better not proceed with too much caution; Jesus will leave us plenty of room to merge with the kingdom on this journey called discipleship as we spread the good news of the Gospel. And let's not forget to hold the conversation, concentrating instead on what is going on around us as we listen to the divine voice of the one who gives eternal life.