At the Car Wash

I was surrounded-a car in front, a car behind. I was waved forward yet I wasn’t feeling it was my time yet. I felt forced. I felt too close to the car in front of me (a very nice, new Camry). I put my foot on the brake and heard the car wash attendant yell “foot off the brake”! I was suddenly blinded by the bubbles covering my front windshield and side windows and I just had to hope the machine conveyor tracks would keep my now-in-neutral car from smashing into the car in front of me.

I was over in Tacoma last week running errands and they have a gas station with a car wash attached. It’s only $5 to get a wash and blow dry. It’s twice as expensive in my town across the bridge. They certainly herd the cars through quickly at the cheap place. No car length distances between at their joint-move ‘em in, move ‘em out…

So about the foot off the brake… I think that Carrie Underwood visited this car wash to get the inspiration for her hit song, “Jesus Take the Wheel”. Besides careening on black ice, when you’re in a car wash with your foot off the brake and you are not allowed to steer, it certainly feels like somebody else is in control.

Lately I’ve figuratively thrown my hands in the air and asked God to show me His plan even though it’s as unclear as a car coated in soap bubbles. Questions like, where are Sarah and I going to live next fall, where will Sarah spend her summer when she’s not at Young Life Camp, who will T.J. live with in Spokane for 3 months while he’s working, will Mitch & Amy get jobs in Chicago next fall and can we ever move back to the Northwest permanently? The list is growing.

Then, even though I can’t see I remember. I remember last spring and all the crazy circumstances that had to be worked out. I look back in amazement at how God orchestrated it all.

Since He promised us in the bible that He is in control of our destinies it doesn’t make much sense for me to try to do it MY way. I could disrupt the course of events.

"If we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:25

Today is Good Friday, and Easter is Sunday. I know that the God who died and rose again for ME (and you) can orchestrate all the details for the Carver Family. I am overwhelmed with gratitude.

Back at the car wash the lights at the end blinked; ready, and then GO. I knew the dryer was finished, I knew I could switch from neutral to drive, take the wheel and be on my merry way. God has a way of letting us know we’re ready for the next adventure or event in our life to take place even if we aren’t convinced. Then He says GO and we’re off!

Off to do His will. Off to experience new things. Off to testify to His faithfulness in our family.

Is your foot off the brake?

Blessings to you and your families this Easter!

I’ll be in Chicago and ROME for the next two weeks so my blogging might take a “backseat” to family time.

P.S. About the broken car…it has to be towed 300 miles across the state. Any volunteers?

In His Grip, Jane