Driving as a Spiritual Discipline

For various reasons, I am now driving a 1991 Ford 4X4. But, before you criticize my total lack of ecological awareness, hear me out. Driving this 15 year old pickup has become a spiritual discipline. The windows do not work without extreme manual effort. Yes, they are electric, but the motors are so worn out I have to press up on the window with one hand while pushing the up button with the other. This vehicle is also a standard. For those of you who don’t know, that means I have to actually shift the vehicle. Because of the four wheel drive and other reasons, this truck does not drive very good at speeds over 55 mph. Therefore, I have been taking life much more slowly as of late. The air conditioner doesn’t work, the heater is oppresively hot, and it the truck smells of mildew because of a rainstorm after one of the broken windows was left cracked over night. Yes, this is an awesome vehicle.

However, I have been developing spiritually even as I drive. For the most part, I am learning the practice of patience. This truck is a little like the church. It’s not a new model, it requires hands-on attention, it isn’t always comfortable, and it is very slow. Yet, driving this finely tuned machine – the truck not the church – has allowed me to develop a slower pace of life, if only between stops on the two-point charge wonder-tour.

Who knows, God might even teach me true patience with enough time behind the wheel. Now, I’m not quite sure if I’m talking about the truck or the church…