It’s Automatic

I’ve mentioned before that I don’t like failure.  It unsettles me.  It makes me feel less than.  You may have realized that I’m super critical of myself.  My idea of failure is sometimes different.  But I have a perfect example of a time that I failed miserably.  It’s not debatable.  It’s just a fact.

I’ve been driving since I was like five.  No, my feet couldn’t reach the pedals.  But ya’ll know I was raised in the country.  It was just us out there.  When we were almost home, my mama would put me in her lap and let me “steer” us to the house.  I was thrilled!

My aunt trusted my driving abilities, too.  She loves to take a ride somewhere daily.  Family folklore tells the tale of the time that my aunt gave a preschool-aged me the keys to the car.  I guess she put me in the driver’s seat and placed herself in the passenger seat.  Although she would probably be labeled intellectually disabled, she had sense enough to know that she couldn’t drive.  She believed that I could take us to our destination.

So, driving is second nature to me.  It’s in my blood.  I love the open road.  I could take road trips every week.  Give me the keys and let me soar.  I passed my written and road skill tests with flying colors.  The state of Arkansas granted me a driver’s license and declared that I was competent to drive on the highways and byways.  I was ready for the world.

When my mom decided that I needed to learn how to drive a stick shift, I was confident.  (More sophisticated people might know a “stick shift” as a manual transmission.  Now that we’re on the same page, I’ll continue my story).  We went into the parking lot of the Department of Health on Dr. Martin Luther King, Dr., and my training commenced.

IT…WAS…A…DISASTER!!!!  Bible Study Brother was in the car for this tutorial, and he cried uncle.  He wanted out!  He sat in the parking lot until the lesson was over because he said my jerking was giving him a headache.  Although Bible Study Mama wanted to hang in there, eventually she too threw in the towel.  I failed.

Listen, I wasn’t overly sad.  I declared that I wanted no parts of that stick shift.  The way I was making it in life was just fine.  I got everywhere that I needed to be cruising on automatic.

Is that you?  Are you going through the motions of a Christian life?  You go to church and Bible study because that’s what you’re “supposed” to do.  There are great business connects at church.  Everyone in your neighborhood goes.  Your wife wants you to be there.  It’s automatic.

Being intentional and focused on having a relationship with Christ is not automatic.  It’s manual.  You have to get into the groove of prayer and fasting and really seeking His face.  And they don’t always line up at the same time.  So, you’re screeching and jerking through this relationship.  Studying the Word of God can be complicated and hard to understand.  Your head is aching.  You get out of the manual and go to the automatic.

Both cars lead you to heaven if you’re saved and have accepted Jesus.  But being able to operate a manual opens up so many doors.  Your automatic car may break down.  The rental place only has manuals available.  Since you can’t drive it, you’re stuck in the same place.  I didn’t ever learn to drive a stick shift, but I’m willing to trying it again.  Don’t be afraid to transition from automatic to manual.  #wepreach