"The I-80 Classroom"

“The I-80 Classroom”

 

When I was in seminary I drove the 2000 or so miles from Long Island (Lon Gisland to you natives) in two installments with the R&R stop in Wheaton. After resting for a day or two I’d start out on the second leg at about 6:00 in the evening, drive through the night, and pull into Denver around noon the following day. You can rest assured that I was ready for some serious sleeping that night!

Around midnight on one trip I was on Interstate 80 somewhere in the boonies of Iowa. The sky was cloudy and it was DARK! But with my high beams on I could see far enough ahead on the road to avoid any danger. I was happy, though, when the sun made its appearance the next morning.

I had been thinking quite a bit about what God had in store for my life prior to that trip, and as I drove along on that moonless night it hit me as to how His leading was like my headlights. Their illumination on the highway didn’t enable me to see all the way to Denver, but it was sufficient to keep me out of trouble as long as I kept alert and watched where I was going. I also had to keep moving for the next area of road to become visible. God similarly shows us His way. He doesn’t let us look into the future and see our entire life (we’d probably be terrified if He did) but He always gives us adequate light to keep us from its hazards. We must, however, keep moving or the next step will never become apparent. He also gives us guidance from the Scripture to prevent our straying off the road (“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”—Psalm 32:8, KJV). We’re thankful we can depend on His faithfulness in keeping His promises.

God teaches us in the varied classrooms of life, including the driver’s seat of a 1959 Rambler on I-80 on a dreary night. Are we ready to learn from the Master Teacher wherever His instructions may be given?

 

Blessings!

                                                                               Jim McMillan