MOIRAJO
  • Barry Manilow & Mother T
    • Post 1 "I Write the Songs"
    • Post 2 "I Am Your Child"
    • Post 3 "Life Will Go On"
    • Post 4 "Sweet Life"
    • Post 5 "Can't Take My Eyes off of You"
    • Post 6 "As Sure As I'm Standing Here"
    • Post 7 "All the Time"
    • Post 8 "Mandy"
    • Post 9 "Here Comes the Night"
    • Post 10 "Lay Me Down"
    • Post 11 "It's A Miracle"
    • Post 12 "Sunrise"
    • Post 13 "Looks Like We Made It"
    • Post 14 "Daybreak"
    • Post 15 "Where Do I Go From Here?"
    • Post 16 "Somewhere Down the Road"
    • Post 17 "It's a Long Way Up"
    • Post 18 "Ay Amor"
    • Post 19 "Copacabana (At the Copa) Remix"
    • Post 20 "New York City Rhythm"
    • Post 21 "If I Can Dream"
    • Post 22 "Memory"
    • Post 23 "You Begin Again"
    • Post 24 "If We Only Have Love"
    • Post 25: "Put Your Dreams Away"
    • Post 26 "Good-bye My Love"
    • Post 27 "Please Don't Be Scared"
    • Post 28 "Keep Each Other Warm"
    • Post 29 "Ready To Take a Chance Again"
    • Post 30 "The Stars in the Night"
    • Post 31 "We Can Be Kind"
    • Post 32 "Look to the Rainbow"
    • Post 33 "Life Will Go On"
    • Post 34 "God Bless the Other 99"
    • Post 35 "Not What You See"
    • Post 36 "Welcome Home"
    • Post 37 "Everything's Gonna Be All Right"
    • Post 38 "Do Like I Do"
    • Post 39 "Brooklyn Blues"
    • Post 40 "Old Songs"
    • Post 41 "Could It Be Magic?"
    • Post 42 "I Made It Through The Rain"
    • Post 43 "Paradise Cafe"
    • Post 44 "Beautiful Music"
    • Post 45: "Harmony"
    • Post 46 "One Voice"
    • Post 47 "Appendices" Let Freedom Ring" >
      • Postlude "Even Now" : Seeing Barry at Barclays After 37 Years"
  • Blog: E-Lifts
  • Weekly Message
  • Sermon Podcasts
  • Links
  • Contact

JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL!!      September 23, 2015

9/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
But now, this is what the LORD says-- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.   Isaiah 43:1




Listen to:  Carrie Underwood:  "Jesus, Take the Wheel"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lydBPm2KRaU

 Rush hour on the Long Island Expressway (LIE) is your typical bumper to bumper grind. Unhappy motorists inch along, scowl at vehicles that snake in and out of lanes, lay on the horn at the cheeky SUVs that muscle their way ahead of the line, with not even the courtesy of a blinker.  I had settled in the far left lane.   At the rate I was going, I wouldn’t reach my destination, my class in spiritual direction, for at least 1 ½ hours.

It turns out I didn’t reach it at all.

I accelerated as the car ahead of me moved.  Then my car stopped.  I mean stopped.  No cough, cough, phizzzzzzzzzz.   It was “good night, folks,” the curtains were drawn, and a red battery volt light to tell me something very, very wrong had just happened.   Fortunately, in heavy rush hour on the LIE, ten miles an hour is speeding.  So I wasn’t in immediate danger of being hit. However, the pileup effect was instantaneous.  A serenade of horns and disgruntled faces greeted me as I sat there, stuck in the far left lane, blocking traffic.    

As I called 911, a police cruiser came from behind. The policeman gave me instructions.  “Put car in neutral.” OK.  Next he gave a big push.  Over his bullhorn, instructions were repeated, “Now steer to the right!”

Steer to the right?

You mean go right into all that moving traffic?

Trust they will stop in time so I can make it to the right shoulder?

Oh no!

However, I had no choice. I had to trust. 

So I crossed three lanes of flowing traffic and watch helplessly as cars veered helter-skelter.  Time slowed down.  I could see every startled and panicked face that swerved out of my way.  Yet I made it finally to the shoulder and to safety.  If I weren’t so terrified and trembling I would have jumped out and kissed the guardrail.  I eventually got towed to my mechanic. Six days later, the car is still at the mechanic.  Although I missed my class and it’s been an inconvenience, that is nothing compared to the realization that no one was hurt, there’s no scratch on the car and everyone eventually got home safe and sound that night. 

I’ve had a few days to calm down and reflect on what happened.  It occurred to me that one time or another we have had or know someone who has had “the stalled in the fast lane” situation.  We go happily along juggling five or six projects, existing on emotional steam it seems.  Sooner or later something gives.  It can be a health problem.  An emotional or mental crisis.  Maybe a spiritual awakening. Or perhaps something changes at work, or our relationships are responding like they used to.  The bottom line is that the electrical wiring which charges our life and gives us purpose and energy gives out.  It just stops.  

The kicker is, to get to safety we have to cross all that ongoing traffic.  There’s no other way to the shoulder.  We have to trust that a way will be made.

It’s hard to trust that the cars are going to stop.  It’s almost easier to stay stuck in the fast lane, letting cars go around, risking a greater accident.   Healing, however, starts when we get that push and we steer the car into the traffic trusting we’ll get to the shoulder in one piece.

It’s called radical trust.   God called Abram and Sarai (Gen. 12) out in their old age promising them a child, a land and to make them a nation.  God promised to deliver the people of Israel out of slavery (Ex. 3).  God promised David a throne and kingdom that would last forever (2 Sam. 7).  Responding to God’s call takes trust, reorientation of our lives and time. Plenty of time.  This is because our lives need to be rewired to the blessing and hope God wants to place in our hearts.

So where is your “stuck in the fast lane” moment?  Do you need help being moved to safety?  Do you need help with renewal?  How is God rewiring your life so it runs better? 

I’ve had time to think.  I am definitely recharging my gratitude battery.  My prayer hour is slowly getting back in alignment.   I see the areas of trust that are lacking.  They go straight to Jesus, the Divine Mechanic for help.

So if you get stuck in the fast lane, don’t forget 911. Don’t forget your triple A membership card.  Most of all, don’t forget to call on Jesus.  My new prayer: “Jesus, take the wheel!”

Prayer:  God, “Divine Mechanic, our lives need rewiring.  Wire your love to our hearts so your holy energy may flow through us, heal us, change us and charge those who are downtrodden around us.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.” 



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    Bible,  Living life on life's terms, spirituality

    RSS Feed

© Moira Ahearne 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.