Last Sunday, I attended Baccalaureate.
On my way to Baccalaureate, I got pulled over.
This seems to be an unfortunate habit of mine. I never, ever intend to speed. But that's not really what the officer cares about.
Here's how the incident happened:
I am jamming out in my car, cruising down a hill, minding my own business. Suddenly I look at my speedometer. Oh no! I'm going a little too fast. I put my foot on the brake.
And then I see the cop.
Shucks.
I pull over to the side of the road and the Officer walks up to my car as I roll my window down. I'm actually pretty used to the process so I already have my license and insurance card handy.
Officer: "Where are you headed to mam?"
Did I mention I was wearing my cap and gown?
I thought the answer should be pretty obvious.
The Officer was really nice, and extremely understanding, and gave me the graduation present of letting me go with a warning.
If it would have been appropriate I would have jumped out of the car and hugged him. As it was, I settled with a heartfelt thank you.
Actually, the above portion served as no other purpose that to entertain you, make you feel better about your own driving skills, and I guess lead into what I'm blogging about today: Driving.
Ah, now we take a stroll down memory lane. 3 years ago.
I had just gotten my permit and I was one excited newbie. You know the way a dogs eyes light up when he sees a squirrel? That was me with a car.
After a few days in the high school parking lot, I finally was allowed to venture onto the road. I made some of the normal mistakes like hitting the brakes too hard, forgetting who went first at a four way stop, and accidently driving on the left side of the road. You know, the usual.
The one thing that kept getting me though, was changing lanes.
I just didn't see the point of checking my blind spot.
I mean really? Going 40mph and I'm supposed to look behind me? No thank you.
This, however, started problems.
See I was always ready for the next step. We'd be driving down our street, and I'd be yearning for the highway. When I'd get to the highway, I dreamed of what the interstate was like.
But my parents kept telling me, I had to check my blind spot.
Because if I couldn't handle glancing over my shoulder while going 40, there was no way I'd make it while doing 75.
It was something that freaked me out. And I had to work on it. But once I got that blind spot down and understood it's importance, well, I aced the interstate.
So, how does this relate to Jesus?
Well, today I was doing a different form of transportation. I was running. And I was running because I've been a real crab and needed some endorphins released.
Because God's given me a few projects lately. Not too hard, a little time consuming, and some that have been just plain annoying. And honestly, I'd really rather just enjoy the start of my summer.
So, while I was running, I started groaning to God. When you read this, please don't read it in a sweet, sad voice. Read it in a pathetic groaning voice. Because that's how it was.
"Why are you giving me all this haaaaard stuff? God, this is seriously no fun at all. Like it's really bleck. And I kind of hate it. Uggggha!!"
Yeah, "Ughhhha".
So maybe that's why when I felt God answer me, I was picturing it in a really sarcastic way.
I could just hear Him saying, "Really Alonnah? This is hard? What about those other great dreams you have of accomplishing for me, I suppose those are easier? Hun, if you can't handle this, you're going to crumble out there."
Ouch.
Check mate.
And it was true. I have built up all these great things in my mind, things I want to do for the Kingdom of God. Things that are going to be really, really tough. And for some reason, I've always dreamed of myself completing them with ease.
But the things He's handed me now are way easier. And all I'm doing is complaining, literally groaning at the thought of Him choosing me to deal with them.
It was like with driving. Why would I be ready for the interstate when I couldn't even safely drive on the highway?
Why would I think for a minute, that doing huge things for God would be possible, that He would even want me to be the one to do them, if all I do with the little things is cry and complain.
I was mentioning all this to my mom and she instantly remembered a verse in Jeremiah. A little background on the story first. So Jeremiah was having an Alonnah moment. He was complaining to God about the people he was having to deal with. And God, who was the same God that I was whining to, also responded to Jeremiah: "If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?"Well shoot. God's got a good point.
And if you think about that and take it lightly, you might respond, "Eh, no need to do well in this then. I sure don't want things getting tougher!"
But, I think they also get more rewarding.
The interstate was awesome. Way better than the highway. I could see so much more, get to so many more places. It was like a whole new world had opened up.
And I think once we prove to God that He can trust us with the people and challenges He's already given us in life, He'll let us in on the good stuff. The world changing stuff. And we'll start to see how much bigger God really does plan. I think it'll take our breath away.
But it's just like with everything else. You've got to pass the first station to get to the next one. No one graduates into second grade if they've failed first.
So, remember:
Earn it.Live without pretense. Love. Drink more water. Prove to God that He can trust you with the mountain moving.
A.Diez
PS. Drive safe.
