Life Happens in the Car

We spend a lot of time in our cars. My family especially seems to. Will has always been a good traveler, and Savannah became one after the age of 2. They're usually content looking out the windows at the scenery, listening to music, or playing a video game. Krista remarked the other day on how much she enjoys our car rides because we get a chance to talk. That's one of the few times when there are very few distractions and we can spend some time just talking. We talk about things that have happened recently and how we feel about them, and we make plans for the future. Those car trips, whether short or long, aren't just what we do between the events of our life--they ARE life. They are opportunities for us to connect and grow closer.

It often seems like people are just waiting for the next big thing to happen. Sometimes it comes in the form of "I'm bored. When are we going to do something?" Sometimes it's just in the mindset of our coming and going. We think of life as the exciting times, with school and the trips to the store just being "filler" time until we get to the fun stuff. But think about it. Most of the minutes of your day are spent doing the more mundane things. It's only a very small percentage that are the "big events" we keep looking forward to.

So take a different perspective on those "little" things. Treat them as opportunities to do good for people, to grow closer to those you love, to make a big difference in small steps. One of my favorite quotes is by Robert Brault, who wrote: "Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

God gives each of us the same 24 hours. Let's use them wisely, use them for His glory, and take advantage of each hour as it comes along.

Have a great week, and enjoy the moment.

(From the Johnson Street Youth Group Trumpeter, 5/25/08)