THE ROAD OF LIFE IN 2012
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The years are beginning to look like dashed line on the highway, looking down at 85 miles per hour. As the old song by Commander Cody states so eloquently, especially for us of Southern descent, “The lines on the road just look like spots.” The years are ripping by at a speed that’s hard to fathom.
What’s not hard to fathom is that we, like the Hot Rod Lincoln from that old song, can’t last forever. Like the car being pushed past its limits, we wear out, break down, or just plain run out of gas. The time for traveling down the highway of life comes to an end.
Our bodies and lives aren’t so different than the cars in the song either. I remember when my soul ride was the latest model…for a very short time. Like all things in this world, the physical world trapped in the time allotted by God begins to falter. Time takes its toll.
I’ve been to the shop quite a few times for repairs. The body mechanics have installed some things for repairs and removed other things no longer of any use and tossed them in the trash… so much for being like new.
I’m due for another check-up in about three months. I hate it when the mechanic-I mean doctor, looks under the hood! Kinda makes me feel like an old worn out car or something. Some things we just gotta do if we want to stay on the road of life.
Many of us see an old vintage model vehicle and appreciate it for what it is, and what it was. Some of us are economy cars, some high performance, off-road, work vehicles, or family sedans, but each of us with beauty all our own, designed by God for a specific purpose. Only He knows how many miles we’ll make it before we head to our final resting spot.
The old song ends with the kid being thrown in the clink. “They arrested me and they threw me in jail, n’ they called my Pappy to go my bail and he said son you’re gonna drive me to drinkin’ in you don’t stop drivin’ that Hot – Rod – Lincoln”!
The choices we make driving through this life will determine where we’ll end up; in jail, or paradise…
None of us know when we’ll run out of gas or break down permanently. When it comes time to call the tow truck, we’ll all be hopin’ the one with the angelic wings shows up. For those of us who acknowledge the One who made us, that hope is confidence.
I pray for all of you for a smooth ride through this next year; 2012. May we all feel the blessing of being granted a life and honor God and ourselves by the decisions we make. May we feel the wind in our hair and appreciate the simple gifts first. I also pray for health for our families and friends.
Let’s not forget to pull off and take some time now and then, after all it’s not a race. There are only two destinations… I suggest the Northern route.
Enjoy the ride, I’ll be cruising in the slow lane this next year. If I see you I’ll give a wave… If I don’t, I’ll see you, one of these days… at home… drive safe.
God bless your 2012.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 8:24 pm
Most people dread and even fight the thought of leaving this world. But I’ve been wondering lately if all the aches and pains that keep taking turns in different places are just to get us in the frame of mind to think that it might be pretty good to get called “home.” And the way this world is going downhill I often find myself asking the Lord to call us, His bride, soon, as it says in
I Thess. 4:13-17. To go or stay for awhile, I accept His will.
Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 10:04 pm
I understand your perspective, we all get weary. But, I see the light shining brighter in you, a sure sign that you’re not done yet my friend. Buckle up! The ride is just beginning!
Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 10:13 pm
This was a precious parallel of life and the dash marks on the road and the repairs at the auto shop !! It is never fun when the mechanic has to peer under the hood. We are as dust when vehicles wiz past us on the road. There may be some rough roads ahead, but storms or not, God will see us through! May you and your family be blessed in 2012.
Friday, December 30, 2011 @ 10:38 pm
Thank you Hazel! Amen! God will see us through! Happy New Year to you and yours. May God continue to bless you in all ways. And thanks for all your wisdom shared this past year, it’s truly been a blessing.
Saturday, December 31, 2011 @ 11:25 am
Wonderful metaphor, again, Floyd! I feel like I’ve been given permission to be in the slow lane.
Blessings,
Voni
Saturday, December 31, 2011 @ 11:37 am
Thanks Voni. I have my signal on…I’ll be pulling over into the slower lanes this next year. I moved so fast for so long, I don’t know what some of the scenery looked like as I passed doing warp speed.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 @ 9:18 am
Hi Floyd! I chuckled through the whole post….. It stirred a lot of things in me! I think I’ve always been a bit more on the sporty side but, settled for economy because that is what made the most sense.
My nick name in High School was “Practical Nan”. I didn’t appreciate it much then, but it sure has come in handy over life. I complained to God, one time, that things seemed to happen so slowly for me . Then He reminded me of the tortoise and the hare. ( me being the tortoise). Some parts of my life are a blur – especially when all 5 kids were little, but mostly it was day in and day out living.
What a shock I had when I found out that I have have already outlived many from my high school class Such as shame.
A number of my christian friends who waited for nothing, could never operate in delayed gratification. I remember looking at them, a little envious. They ran circles around me, while I just p-p- plodded along. In everything, God has taught me great contentment. These days, it seems that I am the one who’s ahead in so many ways. I can cope with whatever state I find myself. Some of my friends are not so well off as their jobs, homes and health have gone bye-bye. I don’t envy that. As for me, I’m with you…..drivin’ slow enough to see the scenery and enjoy it and the people God has placed in my life —> like YOU! Thanks for a great analogy.
As an aside, I love my truck now, but can you believe I owned and Austin Healy and a BMW at one time? I put 250K on the BMW, but later, I also got the same mileage out of an Aerostar. LOL!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012 @ 11:07 am
You crack me up Nancy! I believe God gives us the choice of perseverance and discipline, then if we make the right choice, He transforms it into our gift. That gift of working and waiting pays huge dividends in God’s economy and life. Glad you’ve go it sister!
What a joy it is to share our lives with the brothers and sisters God places in it! At least you put the miles on that car, you got your moneys worth. I hope your not making Randy drive the car!
Thursday, January 5, 2012 @ 10:55 am
Nope! Randy’ drives his F250… I drive the 1F50
The kids managed to wipe out some of the other cars a few years ago! One daughter was rear-ended twice in our vans – totaled them….Another totaled a Buick …Ahhh .Life!
Thursday, January 5, 2012 @ 6:42 pm
Good for you for letting him drive the big one! Hope the kids are alright, those kind of accidents have a way of hanging around for a while. We too have had our issues with kids and wrecked cars and trucks… We still have one more yet to turn 16… If you get some more time, maybe send up a few more prayers? Thanks Nancy!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 @ 8:31 am
Yeah right ! You in the slow lane. I think, maybe what you feel is the slow lane is more like it, or maybe if your driving on the Autobon. I’ll honk as u zip past me.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012 @ 12:53 pm
Okay… How about I’m gonna try to slow down this year? I think my time in traffic school (again) is helping my perspective!