My wife and I just returned from a trip to Spain. Yes, we
left behind the five kids with awesome and loving grandparents. Then made the journey
over the great pond, just 8 short hours in the air. It was a fantastic trip. We
landed in Madrid, then went to a beautiful wedding in Toledo. I am one who
likes to watch and pay attention to what is going on around me and often later reflect
on the different things that I observe. I have narrowed down my observations on
this trip to around five blog post that I would like to share with everyone. By
doing this I can bring together food, love, relationships, travel, and God. While
at the same time not rushing to tell you the stories that made the biggest
impression upon myself.
The first event I would like to relate to everyone is the
taxi ride from the airport in Madrid, to our hotel that we would be staying in
when we returned from the wedding. Now I do a lot of driving back home and am
not one who scares easily by close traffic, speeding, or wild driving. (Heights
is my great fear. Anyone who knows me, knows that when I go over two steps up a
ladder, I am petrified.) But this car ride was different. When we first got in
the cab all was well. Then very quickly the speeding and very close following
of the car or bus in front of us started. It was literally, bumper to bumper at
full speed. All I could do was to hold to the handle on my door for dear life.
Joanne tells me, “I am trying not to look.” Well, I had to look. And everything
that I saw was freighting or in one line from a favorite movie of mine, “Clue”,
“All to shocking!” (If you don’t know it, no worries, if you do, you know just
what I am talking about.) To make things ever better, while all this excitement
is going on, the driver is cursing
other drivers in Spanish. He got very upset and vocal with one bus driver. I
could not tell what the driver has done wrong to receive such a tongue lashing,
then again, he is the expert. I tried not the laugh to hard, but I had to do
something to lighten to mood a bit and stop my heart from racing.
About halfway through the overly long trip he almost, and I mean
almost! HIT a scooter who was trying to merge lanes. This in the next layer
that we have to add to the story, the countless scooters and their drivers, who
a buzzing around the already very close traffic. It must have been a few
inches, but the driver did make it through. I could not imagine driving a car
in this mess, let alone a two wheeled scooter. Not for me! Not for me! Let me
tell you, I have never been so ready to get out of a car before. I was so happy
to put my flat feet upon the hard ground again.
Looking back upon the chaotic and wild scene makes me think
about many of us do as the driver did, we go too fast through the many obstacles
and distractions in life. We do not allow enough time for the people around us,
or even God himself to react to what we are doing. At these times it is usually
us, not others, who are causing the greatest problems that confront us. We have
to learn to slow down and respond to what is before us with patience and
kindness, not anger and cursing. Think how many complications or issues we
confront daily would likely disappear if we took that step. Or for many people,
it’s a huge leap. A leap that calls for self-control of mind and body. This
brings to mind a passage from the Book of Exodus, when Israel is about to cross
the Red Sea, Moses tells the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the
salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom
you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you
have only to be still.” (14:13-14) We too must at times stand still and let God
act. He is the one with the plan, not us. The good God of creation is always
ready to work in us, we just have to give him the time to do so. Let us all
slow down, get out of our own crazy taxi rides, and listen to what God is
telling us.
No comments:
Post a Comment