“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29
As a pastor’s kid, there are many perks (actually, not really….). And one of those is learning to drive in the church parking lot. As the youngest of three kids, I was the last to learn to drive in the church parking lot. I learned how to turn with a turn signal, how to change lanes, how to park, etc. Our church was on a very busy street in Kansas City and I will never forget sitting in the driver’s seat, feeling confident that I had mastered this thing called “driving,” because I had done everything there was to do as a driver. I was ready to conquer the world! And then my dad said, “Ok Stephie, it’s time to pull out onto the road.”
WHAT!? You mean I’m actually supposed to drive on the roads??? With other cars??? Are you crazy!!!!!!?????
I looked at Dad with wide eyes and said, “Are you sure I’m ready?” He smiled and nodded.
I pulled close to the four-lane road, with my right turn signal on and looked both ways, when dad said, “Why don’t you turn left?”
WHAT! Across two lanes of moving traffic?! I looked left and all I could see were cars moving at the speed of light, like bullets firing out of a shotgun! It was at that moment I really thought my dad had lost it.
Then my dad spoke words that have stayed with me. Words for driving and words for life. He said, “Take a deep breath and don’t be in a hurry. I’m here with you, just remember what I taught you and you will be fine.”
There is a reason we need to spend time each day learning from God, in the safety of His presence, where we can listen to His voice and respond in our spirits. There will come a time, and probably many times, when God will call us onto the busy roads of life. When we have invested in Him and have responded to His investment in us, we will be ready. The unknown road of life does not scare God, and with Him by our side, it doesn’t need to scare us either. I hope that you will invest in your relationship with God each day, that you will spend time listening to Him, studying His revelations to us in the Bible, and opening your life to His Holy Spirit. When you do, you can remember what He taught you and you will be fine.
Stephanie Greenwald, Director of Worship
